This is Detroit
right around 1958.
And that was me right there,
Otis Williams,
17 and about to burst.
J7 Oh, I can't help it J7
J7 I can't help it .0
J7 I can't help it J7
J7 I just can't help it fl
Back then there were mainly two
choices for a young man like me:
The assembly line or music.
I know now that I was destined
for the latter.
What I didn't know was that I was living in
the city soon to be known to the world--.
As the birthplace
of Motown Records.
I remember it
like it was yesterday,
The exact moment that singing became
the most important thing in my life.
Al! Al!
Al!
Otis! Up here!
Hurry up, man!
Hey, you're late. You already
missed The Chantels.
Let's give a big Detroit welcome
to The Cadillacs!
J1 Now they often call me Speedoo
but my real name is Mister III
J1 Now they often call me Speedoo
but my real name is Mister III
IJ Don't come meetin'
bandit fellas III
J1 and takin'
other folks' girls III
J1 Well, some, they call me Joe
some, they call me Moe II
D But just remember Speedoo
is the name that people show JII
JII Well, now they often
call me Speedoo III
J1 Bu! my real name is Mister J1
Whoa-ooh!
J1 Well, now some
they call me Moe II
D Some, they ca me Joe D
D But just remember Speedoo
is the name that people know JII
JII Well, now they often
call me Speedoo III
J1 Bu! my real name is mister J1
I1 Now they gotta
call me Speedoo II
IJ till they call up
makin' pretty girls III
I want this one here.
The Tony Curtis?
Oh, no, no.
Oh, D. A. That's the one.
I think with your head shape,
you'd want the New Yorker.
The Tony Curtis it is.
Man, this stuff burns!
Whool
Now, the longer you keep that on
your hair, the straighter it'll get.
Whoa!
000M
And I thought y'all were singers.
Whool
Oh! Ooh!
Mama?
Mama, where are you?
Wherever there's
work to be clone.
Ooh! Ooh, you did it!
- Oh.
- Y-you like it?
I'll let you know.
Here.
Look at your head!
I'm home. Look at this place!
Allan, what'd I tell you about leaving
your toys all around this house?
Boy, what the hell
did you do?
Looks like he lost a bet.
It's called a process, Edgar.
I know what it's called- I'm just wondering
what he was thinking when he got it.
Well... I like it.
Just decided.
Come on. Sit down.
HeJp me. And this better not
be about that singin ' mess.
I kiss butt to get him an interview
for the assembly line,
And this is the thanks I get.
I'm thankful.
If you were, you'd go
and wash that out right now.
Mama, tell him
it don't wash out.
- Then shave it off!
- Man!
Honey, all the kids are wearin'
these styles these days.
Not any kids of mine. And as long as he's
livin' under my roof and eatin' my food,
he'll be livin' by my rules.
Now that could be changed.
Where are you goin'?
I tell you where I ain't goin'. I ain't
goin' to work on some damn assembly line.
That's for damn sure.
Otis!
Show respect.
I'm sorry, y'all.
Especially you, Edgar.
You always done me right.
But I'm a singer now.
That's just the way it is.
Let's say grace.
J1 Oh, what a night J1
J1 I'm going to love you, dear J1
J1 Oh, what a night J1
J1 I'm going to hold you, dear J1
J1 Oh, what a night J1
I! I'm going to kiss you, dear I!
I! That's why I!
III I love you so J7
J1 That JII
III I won't forget III
JII Ooh, no J3 IJ All those
things you have told to me IJ
J1 I won't forget 'em, baby
oh, no, no, no, no J1
D Things 'm my heart D
J7 Won't let me forget
your love J7
1-7 Your love J7
D Oh-oh-oh-oh what a night III
IJ Oh, oh, I wonder
wonder, wonder, wonder J1
Come on.
Come on.
J1 Who wrote the book of love J1
J1 Chapter one says to love her J1
D To love her with all your heart D
III Yeah, yeah, yeah III
J1 Chapter two you tell her J1
I1 You're never, never, never
never, ever gonna pan D
- IJ In chapter three remember D
- III Remember III
D The meaning oi romance D
D Romance D
J1 In chapter four you break up let's
give it just one more chance IJ
J1 One more chance JII J7 Oh, I
wonder, wonder who, who, who IJ
- IJ Who wrote the book of love J1 - We
need to learn some more up-tempo tunes.
No, we need to practice harder.
I! Yeah D
Most of all, we need him.
fl Who wrote the book J7
III of love III
Rright from the start,
I was the organizer.
You see, Al, Richard and Pee-Wee
were always running off someplace.
I got the Red Sox.
Yeah.
Where are y'all goin'? You're
supposed to be workin' on lyrics.
I gotta work the dairy with my dad, o.
We gotta get something new.
There's a lot of competition
out here, you know.
Hey, check out Lamont- He thinks he's
so cool ever since he got signed-
Who got signed? Lamont Dozier, man.
Fox Records.
Man, why does everybody
Get signed but us?
How many time I gotta tell you?
Because we ain't workin' hard enough-
Don't you go talkin' to me
about work.
I'm the one who gets up 4:00
to go drive a milk truck-.
I'm not talkin'
about that kind of work.
Look at this car!
I'll see you later. And you.
All right-
Hey... You.
Wait a minute.
Wait, wait, wait.
Why don't you stop? I just need
to talk to you for a second-
What's the matter with you?
Come on, I'm not gonna hurt you.
Wait.
Oh, come on, man!
Hold on for a second.
Wait, wait, wait!
Hey, man, you
have got to calm down.
I'm Otis Williams
of Otis Williams and the Siberians.
Oh, man! Shoot,
I thought you was trouble.
You sing with the Voice Masters, right?
Yeah, well, not no more-
Well, this is your lucky day, see, 'cause
we happen to be looking for a bass singer,
And your voice
knocks me out.
Yeah?
Hell, yeah!
What, you don't
get told that all the time?
So what do you say?
About what?
About singing with us?
Oh, yeah, yeah.
But it sure enough
ain't up to me.
Hello. Miss Franklin?
And who might you be?
- Uh-- w-wait, ma'am. Ma'am?
- Time's up. Time's up!
I'm Otis Williams.
You see, I got this singing group.
And you want my Melvin?
Well, I guess that's
what it comes down to.
You know, Melvin's
already recorded.
Oh, yes, ma'am- Got both
of his records. Mm-hmm.
What's the name
of this group of yours?
Otis Williams and the Siberians.
Listen, Otis.
Now, my Melvin has always been just a
little too trusting with all these groups.
- How I know you different?
- Ma'am?
I'll tell you what.
If you'll promise to look after him,
do right by him...
Then I'll think about it.
I promise to do
my best, Miss Franklin.
Everybody calls me Mama Rose.
You might as well too.
Melvin, come on out
from behind that tree.
- And zip up that jacket.
- Yes, mama.
Y'all come on in here and get
somethin' to eat. Come on. Come on.
Siberians!
III Earth angel, earth angel J7
J1 Will you be mine J1
D My darfing dear D
III My darling dear J1
J3 Love you all the time III
D I'm just a fool D
J7 I'm just a fool III
III A fool in love with you J1
III Earth angel, earth angel J7
J1 The one I adore J1
Hey, hey! Guys!
I1 Now and forever D
come on.
D Ever more I!
J1 I'm just a fool J1
J7 Fool in love with you III
Pass the ball!
III I fell for you Jil
D And I knew J1
Hey, girl, you know
I'm talkin' to you.
J1 I hope and I pray J1
Jil that someday III
J1 I'll be the vision
of your happiness II
Who are they?
They sound good! Mmm! .57
Earth angel Earth angel 1-7
fl Please be mine .67
D My darfin' dear D
I'll see you guys later, okay?
Bye. J7 All the time IJ
Bye.
J7 I'm just a fool III
J1 A fool-- J1
D with you I!
- Thanks, gentlemen.
- But we ain't done.
You've done enough.
All right. Come on, man.
Let's go to the library-
I'll just have to finish up
on Saturday night.
- A date?
- That's fight.
I can't.
Why?
- Josephine.
- Yes, mama?
I think it's time for you
to bid your friend good night.
- Good night, Mr. --
- Williams.
Williams.
Nice of you to stop by.
Good night, Mr. Williams.
A-and a good night
to you too, ma'am.
Mm-hmm.
Saturday. Saturday.
D There's a moon out tonight D
J1 Whoa-whoa-whoa-ooh IJ
III Let's go strollin' JII
J7 There's a girl in my heart III
III Whose heart I've stolen Jil
J1 There's a glow in my heart J1
Now wasn't that sweet?
Hey-dee-hey-hey.
Joltin' Joe Howard here sending a special
request to y'all out there in radio land-
If anyone knows the whereabouts of Otis
Williams, tell him they got ten minutes--
What?
He said my name.
Yeah, yeah, right,
he said your name.
Once again, sending out
an A. P. B...
To one howling Otis Williams.
Come on down to 1953 Cranebrook Avenue.
He said my name-
He said your name.
Bones, he said our name- He wants us
to come down to the radio station--
Oh, somebody write down
that address!
Write down the address.
- 1953 Cranebrook Avenue.
- He said my name.
- I ain't got a pencil!
- Get us to the station!
- Forget it. I got the address.
- What about the girls?
- Jo's house is on the way. We can
drop 'em off there. - Say what?
Get outta here quick.
Quick! Go, man!
Oh, watch out!
Hey, hurry up, man. Hurry up.
Get us to the station, Al!
Al, don't park in front.
Why not?
Man, we in a milk truck, that's why.
You happy? Beside myself.
Let's go-
Comin' to you live
from WCHB,
It's most definitely
the Joltin' J-O-E...
Gettin' down to the nitty
in this Detroit city.
And now this one from
Mr. Excitement, Jackie Wilson,
He's real petite, light on his feet,
and he wants y'all to be loved.
This cat's pillow's never dry
because he's got lonely teardrops.
Don't tell me. Otis, right?
Yeah, Otis Williams--
Hold on a second- We gotta get your
ass into the recording studio-..
And my ass back before
Jackie's last teardrop falls.
Come on.
Do you wanna go?
- Come on.
- Okay, let's go, let's go.
Th-this is a window.
Come on.
Keep real quiet.
Management doesn't like it when
I leave the show unattended.
Especially if it ain't
exactly station business.
I ain't tryin' to jolt myself
out of job, know what I mean?
Look it here. Guess I need to
cop some milk on the way back.
Don't let appearances fool you.
Lotta records been cut here.
Besides, Johnnie Mae
always gets the job clone.
- Gotta go.
- Who's Johnnie Mae?
I'm Johnnie Mae.
Johnnie Mae Matthews,
Your manager,
producer and promoter.
Now get on in here.
Hey, hey, hey, guys- Let's get started.
All right.
We're ready.
My group is here.
Uh, Miss Matthews,
with all due respect...
I'm Otis Williams,
and this is my group.
Oh, excuse me!
I thought y'all wanted to make it
in the music business.
- Well, yeah, but-
- let me break it down for you.
You see, I've been watchin'
y'all for some time now,
And I think
I can help you make it.
Starting May 8, you could be appearing
at the Belle Isle Silver Jubilee.
May 12, grand opening,
milkefs chevrolet.
May 19, opening at--
For the Miracles--
St. Stephen's community center.
- That's what I'm talking about.
- Shall I go on?
Man, what you waitin' for?
O, shake her hand.
Shake her hand.
Come on.
All right, all right.
Well, let's get movin'.
Time is money. My money.
Oh, and by the way...
I'm changin' your name.
Hmm?
Otis Williams
and the Distants, take one.
J1 Come on, come on
come on, come on J1
.5 You know you make me
wanna love you- .67
Hey! We're tryin'
to make a record down here!
From the top.
Take two.
D Come on
come on D
IJ You know you make me wanna love you
in the morning JII J1 In the morning IJ
- .0' In the evening .7
- fl In the evening 1-7
J1 In the nighttime it's the right
time JII J1 In the nighttime J1
JJ Iris the night time I wanna love
you .57 fl I wanna l0 ve you IJ
D Come on I1
D Come on D
D Come on now IJ
I-I Come on III
J1 I wanna make love to you J1
All right, o, where is Al? I'm starting
to think he's gonna blow this place-
He knows he's supposed to meet you, right?
I told him about 50 times.
We go on next- Y'all better
hope they play a long set-
Who's that?
Oh, hey, man, that's the Primes
and the Primettes.
They're on right after us.
I hope they don't sing
as good as they walk.
Dollar says
he's been drinkin', o.
Where you been, Bones?
Hey, how y'all doin'?
You late.
That's a SO-cent fine.
Yeah, I'm here, and I'll sing any
"skinny behind" group into the ground-
Yeah, I'm talkin' about you.
Cool it, Bones- I'm just
tellin' it like it is.
What y'all call yourselves?
Otis Williams and the Distants.
- And who's Otis?
- That's me.
Well, hello, Otis.
And I'm Josephine.
Hi, Jo. I'm Flo.
This is Florence Ballard,
Mary Wilson.
I'm Diane Ross.
We're the Primettes.
And this is Paul Williams and
Eddie Kendricks, the Primes.
Yeah, and back to you, Diane.
How'd you get to be so Prime?
Why don't you mind your damn business?
She's spoken for-
- So back off.
- Why don't you make me?
Why don't the two of you
just cool out, all right?
- We're cool.
- That's not the way it looks.
The Rumblers!
In our continuing tradition...
Of showcasing the finest
you're gonna see,
Please help me welcome
to the stage...
Otis Williams and the Distants!
Yeah! VVhoo! I gotta go.
I love you.
Come on! Come on!
Yeah! Yeah!
We're Otis Williams and the Distants,
And this is our newest single,
Come on. "
One, two, a one, two,
three, four--
I! ba-ba-ba-boom
ba-ba-ba-boom D
I1 ba-ba-ba-boom
ba-ba-ba-boom D I1 ah D
I1 Come on, come on come on,
come on D D ba-ba-ba-boom D
IJ You know you make me wanna love you
in the morning JII J1 In the morning IJ
IJ In the evening in the nighttime
Jil IJ In the evening IJ
J1 In the nighttime it's the right
time JII J1 In the nighttime J1
J7 I wanna lo vs you J7
.0 Come on .57
I1 Come on come on D
D Come on now D
J1 I wanna make love to you J1
They sound good.
Yeah, but, uh, look at 'em.
They're just standin' there.
What's this?
J1 I wanna be your everything I1
J1 Wah, wah, wah J1
J1 Do you think about me D
J1 Ooh, do you think about me JII J1 I
wanna love you with all my might J3
IJ That sweet
and wonderful dame III
J7 I wanna
make love to you f!
It's Smokey, and he's got
Berry Gordy with him!
J7 I wanna
make love to you f!
I! Yeah, yeah, yeah
Come on I!
I1 Come on come on D
D Come on now D
D Come on, come on now I!
D Gstfin' tired
Getfin' tired D
D Come on I1
D Come on D
Otis Williams and the Distants!
- Whoo! Come on!
- Otis Williams and the Distantsl
Top that.
And now they're back.
Hey, hey. That was great.
Thanks, man-
The Primes and the Primettes.
Mom, mom!
Oh, y'all were wonderful!
Oh, wonderful! Al!
Oh, honey, you were so good.
Jzsciiyfl
D Just a little bit longer J1
III Just a little bit III
IJ Longer D
III Stay just a little bit JII
.17 Please J7 J7 Please,
please Please, please fl
J7 Just a little bit longer fl
fl Tell me you're going to J7
I! Just a me bit I!
D Now your daddy don't mind D
D And your mommy don't mind D
I! R we have another dance I!
D Yeah, just one more D
I1 One more time D
D One more time D
III Oh, won't you stay J1
They're good. What?
fl Just a little bit longer J7
Shut up.
They're all right.
IJ Please won't you
say you will III
J1 Say you will J1
I1 Won't you place your sweet lips I1
D to mine I!
D Won't you say you have me D
D All the time D
JII All the time JII
n StayJil
J7 Just a little bit longer J7 .67
Just a little bit longer; stay J7
III Just a little bit please IJ
III Please, please, please III
J1 Just a little bit longer J1
J1 Please tell me you're going to J1
J7 Just a little bit J7
Hey, there goes
Berry Gordy.
Let's go. IJ Come on, come
on come on and stay IJ
J1 Come on, come on come
on and stay J1 J7 Stay IJ
How're you doin'?
Oh, couldn't be better, sir.
A Mr. Berry Gordy, right?
Yeah, that's right.
Thank you.
Uh, Otis Williams.
Oh, Otis. Hey, man, you guys were
really good out there tonight.
Smokey better watch out- It just
isn't fair how good we are.
We've got other songs.
- D Piano's kid, Pacds kid D
- D Bang, bang D
D Yeah, Pam's kid D
D Bang, bang D
Thanks.
Uh, excuse me, sir.
I just wanted to, uh--
Oh, uh, this is Blue.
Hi, Blue.
L-I mean our bass,
Melvin Franklin.
I just wanted to say this is such a
great pleasure to finally meet you,
Because the things you're doing
with Motown are great.
Thanks very much. That's nice to hear,
guys. Thank you. I appreciate it
Uh--
uh--
Uh, do you guys have a manager?
Yes.
No.
I mean-- well, you know. We
haven't signed anything-
It's complicated.
You know, a friend--
Listen, if you guys
ever figure it out,
Here's my card.
Nice meeting you.
It's our pleasure,
Mr. Gordy.
Card.
Card.
Here comes Johnnie Mae.
Holy--
whool
Damn!
Miss Matthews!
Hey! Do you like it? Like it?
Shoot, I love it-
Where'd you get it?
New York City, baby.
Cut that deal at RCA,
Walked half a block down to
Broadway, paid for it cold cash.
Go on. Check out the upholstery.
Genuine leatherette-
Hey, hey, I said check
it out, not mess it up-
So our record
must be doin' good, huh?
You tell me.
Does this look good to you?
Oh, wow!
Whewl
So when is pay day?
As soon as those royalties
start pourin' in, baby.
But that's our money
right there, right?
Can't we just
divvy that up now?
Fellows, I'd love to,
but we got bills to pay.
- What bills are those?
- Promotion, for one thing.
Air time don't come cheap, you know.
Palms gotta be greased-
That's it?
What's with the third degree?
Don't y'all trust me?
Oh, oh-- no, no, no.
Sure we do.
Just tryin' to learn
the business.
Well, learn it
on your own damn time.
And don't be confusin' my money with
money you ain't even earned yet.
Y'all ain't my only group.
You know, as a matter of fact,
just get out.
Get out of my damn car. I don't
know what I was thinking--.
Letting you ungrateful buds
drive in it anyway.
Yeah, but
what about the car?
- Ain't your car.
- It says our name right there.
Ain't your name, either.
Not no more.
The car, the name, it all belongs to me.
The songs too.
Get on my damn nerves.
Can she do that, o? Can she
take our name like that?
I don't know.
No money? I'm sick of this crap.
I quit!
What?
I quit!
Just like that, Bones,
you gonna up and quit on me?
Wait up, Al.
I'm with you.
Richie.
To hell with you.
Oh, no.
Come on, Richard.
Damn! I mean, just like that they're
just gonna up and quit on us.-.
Just because
they ain't gettin' paid!
Yeah.
Maybe they're right, o.
I can't believe
you just said that, Blue.
We are not quittin'.
We got a card.
Just don't have a group.
You hungry?
I'm always hungry.
Mama Rose's?
What's up, o?
Better be good news,
'cause I can't take no more bad.
Well, you best believe
it's good news, man.
Who'd you get?
Singer and dancer.
Yeah? Yeah?
Lay it on me.
Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, man.
The Primes?
Well, once upon a time.
What happened? What you
mean what happened, 0t?
These cats
are now available.
I don't know, Blue. I just
don't like their attitudes.
Oh, now come on, 0t.
You know they sing good.
They move good.
They hungry, just like us.
And they wanna join
our group.
Now I'm tellin' you, 0t,
I'm tellin' you...
These cats called me up
beggin' to join our group.
You know what I'm sayin'?
Hey, y'all!
They begged?
Yeah. Well, you know,
practically.
Now the point is, what harm
can one rehearsal do, right?
Come on.
Hey...
When you get done here,
you can come do my yard.
It was a joke, man- Ha-ha!
Hey, how y'all be?
Hey, how y'all doin'?
Hey.
So, we heard y'all
wanna join our group?
- Your group?
- Yeah.
I thought you said
they wanna join our group.
Al!
My man.
Well, what do you know.
Oh, we can do better than that.
A one, a two, a one, two, three.
I! Ohhhh D
I! Mower D
D Oh, mother of mine D
I! Oh, mother I!
D Oh, mother I!
J1 The things
that you told me-- J1
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Hold it, hold it, hold it.
Look, fellows,
we sound good, but, um,
You know, just standin' there
and snappin' fingers...
ls fine, you know,
if you some old cats.
But see, we're young,
and I'm kind of frisky.
So we got to move.
You know what I'm sayin'?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I mean, that's what I thought.
- All right.
- So why don't you show us what you got?
All you're doin' is steppin' back like
this. One, two, three and snap, snap.
You got it?
Like, one, two, three and snap.
D 0h, mother I1
I! Oh, mother I!
D 0h, mother I1
I! Oh, mother I!
Now go to your left. Go to
your left IJ Oh, mother 1-7
Your other left. Oh, come on, man.
We some singers.
I don't see
why we have to dance.
We're just tryin' to sell some sex
here, so you gotta move, all right?
Besides, we gotta give the folks somethin'
to watch while I'm singin' so sweet.
Oh, man, it be
pilin' up in here today.
Come on, Al, come on- Let's get it
together now. Now back from the top.
Pick it up.
Here we go.
D 0h, mother I1
I! Oh, mother I!
I1 Oh, mama I!
I! Oh, mother I!
J1 Oh, mama J1
Hazel
I! Oh, mother D Now they're
rehearsing 'm my house.
.7 Oh, mama .0'
Owner's ready.
Knock, knock.
Hey, how ya doin'?
They just gettin' started.
How ya Gain"?
Lord have mercy.
If y'all ain't five of the
handsomest men in Detroit.
Y'all don't even need to sing.
Just parade back and forth.
D Oh, mother I!
Now we had a group.
Eddie and Paul turned out to be
just what we needed,
and Al, who quit almost
every week, was excited too.
And here it was,
the Hitsville building,
home of Motown Records.
Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye,
The Miracles, The Marvelettes.
It was too much.
Well... We're here.
Melvin, did y'all
hook up with The Primes?
Looks that way, don't it?
Man, y'all gonna kick some ass.
What ya callin' yourselves?
The Elgins.
Elgins?
Like the wristwatch?
Yeah.
Cool.
Well, good luck.
Why, thanks.
Who are they?
Oh, that's Jimmy Ruffin
and his little brother David.
They both cut solo records.
Motown?
No, no, man,
but they're hoping.
Hmm.
Well.
Go on.
I'm gain'.
I'm sorry. Mr. Gordy's
in a recording session.
He'll have to get
back to you.
J1 Please, Mr. Postman look at me... J1
Excuse me.
I'm Otis Williams.
Hi. Martha Reeves.
Uh, Mr. Gordy's expecting
my group for an audition.
Group name?
Well, he knows us as The Distants,
but now we go by The Elgins.
Like the watch?
Wait here.
Hey, so, what'd they say?
He said to wait outside
and come up with a new name.
New name? Damn.
Yes.
Thank god.
No, no. Look, Blue, don't
worry about it, all right?
What we'll do,
we'll put our heads together...
And just come up with
a new name out here, hmm?
The Edsels.
The Pontiacs.
The Corvairs.
Oh, no, no, no.
- The Radicals.
- No.
- The Spectacles.
- Testicles.
Uh... Probably not.
Yeah. Sorry.
The Hearses.
The Undertakers?
The Stiffs.
No, no, guys- Guys, look, it's gotta
be somethin' forbidden, you know?
Somethin' that everyone wants
but no one can have.
It's gotta be somethin' sexy.
Pop. Yeah, yeah, snap
those shoulders up-
Hey, y'all,
they're ready for you.
Whoo. All right,
guys, let's do it.
Hey, we can't leave
nothin' to chance.
Lord, we call on you
to give us the faith...
And the courage to make the most of this
great opportunity that you've given us-
Amen. Amen.
Now let's do it.
Ooh, yeah.
So, you guys come up
with a name for yourselves yet?
The Temptations.
"Temptations. "
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
Okay, gentlemen, let's hear it.
I! Ohhhh D
I! Mower D
D Oh, mother o! mine D
J7 I've been blind J11
I-I So blind III
J1 The things that you tell me, yeah J1!
J1 Oh, mother IJ
J1 I paid, I really paid 'em
no mind J7 J1 Oh-oh-oh-oh IJ
J7 Oh, please, oh, please forgive
me, yeah J7 fl Oh, mother H
J7 I know I was wrong J7
J7 Doo, doo, doo, doo fl
J1 But now, now I know, yeah J1
J1 Oh, mother J1
IJ Mother of mine IJ
III My place my place is at home III
J1 Can't you see I've been cryin' IJ
III Oh, yes J1
IJ He's been cryin' D
III Almost dyin' JII
J1 Almost, almost dyin' III
JII Oh, mother J1
III Please, mother III
J1 Oh, mama J7
III Please, mother III
I1 Oh, mama I!
D Fflease, mom D
J1 Come on and tell me now J7
III How much of mom's love J1
D You don't undersmnd D
D Doe-don, doo doo-doo, doo D
J7 When you said That you were
wrong J7 J7 Doo-doo, doo I!
IJ Yes, it was that your girl J1
III Doo-doo, doo J3
IJ She put you in such a whirl D
III Doo-doo, doo J3
J1 Well, I'm not gonna be no fool no
more III J3 Be no fool no more J1
J7 Oh, I'm so sorry now J7 J7
Mama, it's gonna be all right J7
D Oh, mother of mine D
III Mother of mine III
Well, did you like it?
No.
I loved it.
I loved it. Huh?
Motown?
Yeah.
All right.
We did it.
Congratulations, guys.
Welcome to Motown.
Thank you.
My pleasure.
- Thank you, sir.
- Yeah.
Hey. hey. hey. guys. guys!
Hold it up, hold it up.
Yeah, Temptations forever.
Yeah.
Ever, baby.
Jo.
We got it-
Motown signed us!
Berry Gordy said he loves us.
What's the matter?
Otis, I'm pregnant.
Don't worry about anything.
Everything's gonna be fine.
So I became an instant
family man.
Our son Lamont arrived
right on schedule.
If only our careers
had happened as fast.
- J7 Why don't you come, come J7
- Oh, yeah, I like that.
I1 To my paradise I!
D Ba-a-a-a-by D
D To my paradise D
I got it.
JII Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh III
I1 Come back, ooh-ooh
To my paradise D
D Ba-a-a-a-by D
D To my paradise D
The Temptations became
part of the Motown machine,
Jil Why don't you come J1 Berry Gordy's
assembly line approach to artist development-
IJ To my paradise JII we had vocal
coaching from Maurice King.--
And countless sessions
in Motown studio a...
With the in-house band
known as The Funk Brothers.
Berry Gordy himself wrote and
produced most of our first records.
I1 With her back in my arms again I1
And there was choreography
by a legendary dancer,
Charlie Atkins.
Paul and Charlie...
Didn't always agree.
Jil With all your talk III
J1 And l-l-l-l don't wanna wake up J1
J1 Don't wanna wake up III
J1 Don't wanna wake up III
D Oh, no, no, no D
Probably the most unique part
of the whole operation...
Was the quality control
meetings.
Berry borrowed this from his
days working at the Ford plant.
He would gather key executives,
songwriters and producers together,
And every record would get voted on
for its hit potential.
For the longest time, it seemed we couldn't
even get a record they thought was good enough.
Who thinks it's a hit?
Okay. If you were
down to your last dollar,
Would you buy this record
or a sandwich?
Sandwich.
What's next?
J1 I want a love I can see J1
IJ That's the only kind that means
a thing to me III IJ Ah-ah-ah IJ
J1 Don't want a love you have to
tell me about IJ J1 Ah-ah-ah IJ
JII That kind of loving I can
sure do without J7 IJ Ah-ah-ah IJ
J1 I can sure do without J1
I1 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I want a love I can see J1
Smokey Robinson was the next
to take up the challenge,
And we knew we had a hit.
I1 Don't wanna be going
by something I heard now II
J1 'Cause, baby, action
speaks louder than words J1
All right, who thinks it's a hit?
As good as it was,
it wasn't good enough.
It didn't even make the charts.
Two years had passed, and we were starting
to be known as the Hitless Temptations.
Don't worry, y'all.
Next record'll make it.
I hope so, 'cause
I'm startin' to wonder.
Well, I ain't. Why are we
rehearsing on Christmas?
If any of y'all had any sense, you'd go find
yourselves a real job too. Merry Christmas.
Once again, there he goes
bein' a jerk!
Once again, man,
you know, he's right.
I can't afford one baby- Here I
am, about to have my fourth-
Come on, Paul.
I know it's gonna get better.
Don't see how. Hell, if Smokey
and Berry can't write us a hit,
Then maybe it's no! the songs.
Know what I'm sayin'?
Well, hey, look at it this way- We
ain't got nowhere to go but..- Up.
See, now that's what
I'm talkin' about, y'all.
See, I feel it.
We're all gonna be big stars.
Happy new year!
J1 Should auld acquaintance J1
D Be forgot D
D And never brought to mind D
J1 Should auld acquaintance J1
D Be forgot D
J1 And auld lang syne III
J1 For auld lang syne, my clear III
D For auld lang syne III
III We'll take a cup of kindness yet J1
D For auld lang syne III
Thank you for coming out-
Happy new year! We love you!
More, more!
More, morel
Whoa'. Happy new year!
Man, you guys hear that?
Let's go back out there.
Oh, they lovin' us. I say we go out there.
Okay, let's sing Chuck. "
Man, we ain't goin'
back out there.
And why not, Bones?
We just got done singin' "Auld lang syne.
" hell, I'm tired.
Now, look, it is not often that
we get asked out for an encore.
We got family out there.
We got friends out there.
Hell, man, our boss is out there,
man, and he wants an encore-
So I feel like singin', all right?
We all feel like singin'.
- I said I'm tired.
- Bones, man, I am so sick of your crap!
Not nearly as sick
as I am of yours.
As a matter of fact, don't say
nothin' else to me.
Why is it that you have to be so negative?
Huh? Why is that?
Let me see if I
can explain it to you.
- What's wrong with you, man?
- I quit!
- Come on!
- You're stupid!
That's it. You're out.
He's gone.
You can't tell me I'm fired, Eddie!
Well, I'm tellin' you-
You're out the group!
Gonna fine me 50 cents?
That's it.
You on your own.
Fine.
D We I!
D You know you make me wanna D
II Shout, shout J1 D Kick my heels
up and throw my head back IJ
I1 Shout, sham D I! Throw my
head back and come on now D
III Don't forget to say you will J1
J7 Don't forget to say
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah III
J1 Say you will JII
III Say it right now, baby J7
J1 Say you will JII
D Come on now III
I1 Say, say J1
J1 Say that you love me J1
D Say I1
D Come on now H
I1 Say I1
II Say that you want me J1
Ladies and gentlemen,
Jimmy Ruffinl
Come on up hare, Jimmy Rufin.
Yeah! Yeah!
III I still remember J7
II When you used to be
nine years old III
D Yeah, yeah, yeah
I was a fool for you JII
III From the bottom of my soul J1
III I want you to know J1
J1 I said I want you
to know right now J1
J1 That you've been good
to me, baby J1
J1 Better than I've been
to myself II
J1 And if you ever leave me J1
III I don't want nobody else Jil
J1 Hey, you know
you make me wanna III
I! Shout I!
D Yeah, yeah D
J7 Shout; shout .0'
fl Yeah, yeah J7
D You make me wanna D D
Oh, yeah D D Shouk D
II Shout, shout J7
III All right all right J1
II Shout, shout J7
III All right, yeah JII
My baby brother David Ruffin.
Come on up, man. Come on up.
D Wait a minute I!
Yeah, David!
II I feel all J1 come on!
Come on!
11,411 njghtfl
J1 I got my woman J1
IJ I feel ah-ahhh IJ
Oh! Oh, oh, oh!
J7 Every time
I think about you J7
J1 It feels so good to me
You know you make me wanna J1
II Shout, shout J1 J1 Set my
brains up and throw my hands up IJ
II Shout, shout J1 JII And kick
my heels up and come on now J3
IJ Take it easy take it easy IJ
III Shout, shout J7
D Take it easy IJ
III Shout, shout J7
D Ooh, come on now D
D Shout, shout D
J1 Shout, shout Jil III A little bit
softer now A little bit softer now IJ
IJ A little bit softer now A little
bit softer now J1 J1 Shout, shout IJ
J1 Shout, shout Jil III A little bit
softer now A little bit softer now IJ
J1 Shout, shout Jil J1 A little bit
louder now A little bit louder now IJ
J1 Shout, shout Jil J1 A little bit
louder now A little bit louder now IJ
J1 Shout, shout Jil J1 A little bit
louder now A little bit louder now IJ
I! Shout I!
D Hey-ey-ey-ey D
- I1 Hey-ey-QV-Q'! n
- D Hey-ey-eV-e'! n
J7 hey-ey-ey-BY J7
n hey-ey-ey-ey-ey I"
J1 hey-ey-ey-BY-QY n
n ney-ey-ey-ey-ey 11
J1 hey-ey-ey-ey-ey J1
J1 shout, shout, shout J1
I! shout, sham I1
I! shout, shout D
Mama Rose, would it be
too much to ask for some more?
David, this is your third, right?
I ain't really ate nothin'
since last year.
That's a good one.
"Last year. "
He's got a point- Some more
corn bread for rne, mama?
Now, how come that don't
surprise me? Here.
You know what
his nickname is, don't you?
- That's not why they call you
Cornbread, is it? - Mm-hmm.
You ain't never seen a guy eat that much.
Man, talk about hungry.
These families down in Birmingham
used to eat this clay for dinner-
Oh, man, please!
I'm serious, man.
They used to eat
red river clay, man.
They used to have some of that
down in Mississippi too.
Wasn't too bad with some hot sauce.
- Where in Mississippi?
- Down by meridian.
Oh, yeah? You know,
we all from down South.
- Really?
- Yeah.
I just really
wanna sing with y'all.
Well, there's gonna be a whole lot
of singin'. And we have some rules.
I hope not too many, 'cause I
ain't too good with rules.
Why not?
Well, my mama owed
some pimp some money.
Instead of payin' up,
she gave me to him.
He had a whole lot
of rules too.
Break any one of them,
a strap came out.
Seems like most times, strap
just came out on its own though.
Well, we don't have no straps,
and what rules we do have...
Are meant to help keep us
chuggin' straight ahead.
- Can you dig it?
- Sounds cool to me. Real cool.
Yeah, real cool.
Give me some.
Slap some skin.
Hey!
H3PPY new year!
Smokqy! He Smokey
bah)', how ya doin '7
Damn good show tonight.
David, that was bad.
You wanna know bad? David's in the
group now. He's a Temptation.
Temptation.
Congratulations.
Come on, Smokey baby.
Sit down and eat. Oh, no time, mama.
Got Claudette waiting-
I just stopped by to say
have I got a song for you!
- Can you dig?
- Yeah, we can dig it.
Well, happy new year.
All right, baby.
Give Claudette a kiss.
Happy new year.
Y'all be careful out there.
Temptations.
Temptations.
It was the new year,
and for the first time...
we had the right
combination of singers.
We had been rehearsing that song Smokey
had written for us for almost two weeks,
And we all liked it a lot.
L! was a cold, crisp night,
And I remember lookin' up at
the four of them and thinkin',
"This is it. This is the night
that's gonna change everything. "
I1 You got a smile so bright I1
J1 You know you could
have been a candle J1
I! I'm homing you so tight I!
J1 You know you could
have been a handle J1
D The way you swept me
off my feet III
J1 You know you could
have been a broom J1
I! The way you sme so sweet I!
J1 You know you could
have been some perfume J1
IJ Well, you could have been
anything that you wanted to III
I1 And I can tell I1
I! The way you do
me things you do D
IJ The way you do the things you do IJ
J3 Oh, baby III
III The way you do the things you do Jil
I! As pram; as you are
ooh-ooh D
J1 You know you could
have been a flower J1
D If good looks
was a minute JII
J1 You know that you
would be an hour II
Hey!
Daddy's on the radio, baby!
Yo, baby girl!
Hey, you heard, huh?
Huh-huh. Yeah!
Are you proud of me?
Check it out.
Number 76 with the bullet.
IJ Well, you could have been
anything that you wanted to III
I1 And I can tell I1
"The way you do the things
you do" hit the charts...
Just in time for the next
Motor Town Revue Tour,
one of many we would be on.
Gonna call me, now?
I'm gonna call you every night.
Promise?
I promise.
Let's go, let's go.
Come on, we gotta get on the bus.
You know I love you, right'? Send this
to the kids. One, two, three and four-
I love you. Love you too.
Bye-bye.
B ye-b ye. Love you, Lamont.
Aside from the fact that we had to
leave our families behind for a month,
these tours were fun.
Sometimes a whole lot of fun.
Bye!
All the Motown acts
would go out on these tours,
Maybe five, six,
seven at a time:
Martha and The Vandellas,
The Supremes, Marvin Gaye,
Mary Wells, The Miracles,
everyone.
IJ I'm stickin' to my guy
like a stamp to a letter III
J1 Like birds of a feather
we'll stick together III
D I'm tellin' ya
from the start III
J1 I won't be torn apart
from my guy II
Mr. Gordy made sure
we were properly chaperoned.
And I'm sure they did their
best and all, but, well,
Let's just say
they couldn't be everywhere.
D I'm hohiin' you so fight D
J1 You know you could
have been a handle J1
D The way you swept me
off my feet III
J1 You know you could
have been a broom J1
D You know
you smell so sweet III
J1 You know you could
have been some perfume J1
No. Wait.
We're not gonna do the sniffin'.
What are we gonna do then?
Why don't we do this? We open
up the perfume and put it on-
I like that idea.
You're not doin' it.
Fl You know you could
have been some perfume J7
Jil Some perfume III
IJ Well, you could've been
anything that you wanted to III
I1 And I can tell I1
III The way you do the things you do Jil
IJ The way you do the things you do IJ
J3 Oh, baby III
D As pretty as you are D
J1 You know you could
have been a flower J1
J1 If good looks was a minute J1
We traveled all over the South.
Many of us had left as kids and had
forgotten what it was like down there.
Seein' that rope
was a harsh reminder...
That things
hadn't changed much.
I! And baby you're so smart I!
J1 You know you could
have been a schoolgirl J1
IJ Well, you could have been
anything that you wanted to III
Jil But I can tell III
I! The way you do
me things you do D
IJ The way you do the things you do IJ
III Oh, baby, yeah J7
D You make my life
so rich III
J1 You know you could
have been some money III
Hmm.
Oh, man!
Do you need some help?
Can you hold the wheel steady?
Okay.
Get your asses back up north!
I got somethin' for your asses!
I got somethin'l
Hey, David, get back here!
Come on.
What's wrong with you?
You don't have no gun!
Come on, everybody-
Get back in!
Get on the bus. Just get on the bus!
They might come back-
III Ooh la, la, la, la J1
J1 I did you wrong III
J1 My heart went out to play J1
III But in the game I lost you J1
D What a price to pay D
D Hey, I'm cryin' D
DOohl-l
D Baby, baby D
Yo!
D Baby, baby D
III Mistakes III
J1 I know I've made a few J1
III But I'm only human J1
I! You've made miskakes too I!
D Whenever I'm with you D
I! Somethin' inside D
When we went on tour again, my
marriage was in a lot of trouble-
Life on the road was having
its effect on all of us,
especially Paul.
J1 This little girl of mine J1
J7 I wanna say she's so fine III
I! And each and every day I!
III I make sure she has her way Jil
By the time we went
back down south,
Hallelujah, the rope was gone.
I like to think our music had somethin'
to do with bringin' the folks together,
but all I know,
it was a wonderful sight.
J1 The girl's all right with me J1
J7 You know the girl's all right III
J1 The girl's all right with me J1
J7 You know the girl's all right III
D She's so good to me D
D I guess that's why
I feel fancy free J1
J1 Just to see
the glow in her eyes J1
J1 Makes me once again
realize II
J1 I love her with
all of my heart J1
D And I know we'll never
never part III
J1 I never heard about
her goin' or playin' J1
D Guess that's why you
always hear me sayin' JII
IJ The girl's
all right with me III
J1 You know
the girl's all right II
J1 The girl's all right with me J1
J7 You know the girl's all right III
Hey, Ruff, we're ready to go.
I'll be there in a second.
Somethin' wrong?
No. Nothin's wrong.
First time everything's right.
The first time in my life
I belong to somethin' that's right.
Well, it's just the beginnin'.
It's just the beginnin'.
Let's go.
We got a few minutes
before the show.
I wanna go over this song
I got laid out for you, okay?
I wrote this one for David, Eddie.
Cool.
We're gonna start
this off with a "C",
then we're gonna jump to an "F".
There's no music during "I've got. "
It's gonna open up on I've got...
Sunshine...
on a cloudy day. "
J1 When it's cold outside J1
J1 I've got the month of may J1
Keep it nice now.
Sweet.
Here's the change-up,
during the chorus.
III I guess you say J1
J1 What can make me feel this way J1
Hold.
III My girl III
oh!
All right!
So we'll start it off--
David, give me an "I've got, "
and then I'll hit "C".
Let's double up when I come in.
Take us back to church.
I'll take you to church.
I've been to church now.
Hey, quiet.
Oh, my god!
J1 I've got sunshine J1
J1 On a cloudy day J7
Shh! Shh!
Look at my boy.
J1 When it's cold outside J1
J1 I've got the month of may J1
That's my bflbY!
J1 I guess you'd say J1
D What can make me I!
J1 Feel this way J1
J1 My girl, my girl, my girl I-l
- J1 Talkin' 'bout my girl I1
- J1 My girl J1
III I've got so much honey J1
I! The bees envy me I!
J1 I've got a sweeter song J1
D Than the birds 'm khe trees D
III Well, I guess Jil
I! you'd say D
See your daddy?
D What can make me I!
IJ Feel this way D
Y'all singin' so good!
III My girl Jil
I1 My girl I1
J1 My girl J1
D Talkin' 'bout my girl IJ
I1 My girl I1
J1 Ooh J1
n Hey, hey, hey 11
- Whoo!
- J7 Ooh J7
I! Yeah D
III I don't need no money J7
D Fortune or fame I!
D I got all the riches, baby IJ
Damn!
III One man can claim J1
D Well, I guess you'd say IJ
J1 What can make me feel this way J1
I1 My girl I1
J1 My girl J1
I1 My girl I1
J1 Talkin' 'bout my girl II
I1 My girl I1
J1 Talkin' 'bout my girl II
J1 I got sunshine on a cloudy day J1
IJ with my girl D
IJ I've even got the month of may
with my girl III
J1 Talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout
talkin' 'bout my girl II
Oh! Oh! Ch!
Oh. my god!
D The best things in life
are free JII
J1 But you can give them
to the birds and bees J1
- IJ I need money J11
- JII That's what I want III
- D That's what I want IJ
- JII That's what I want III
- D That's what I want IJ
- JII That's what I want III
- D That's what I want IJ
- JII That's what I want III
J1 Your love give me such a thrill J1
I1 But your love don't pay my bills I1
- IJ I need money J11
- JII That's what I want III
- D That's what I want IJ
- JII That's what I want III
- D That's what I want IJ
- JII That's what I want III
Ha-ha. Too much.
Success brought much more
than any of us bargained for.
We were workin' nonstop--
rehearsing, recording, touring--
Not to mention radio promotions,
press interviews and photo sessions.
That's why we were happy to finally
relax at the annual Motown picnic.
Hey, hey, hey.
Lookee here.
Whoever said success makes you
the person you really are...
must've had David in mind,
Because he started to become
someone none of us recognized.
It's mighty funny how
he can show up here,
but miss out on rehearsals.
Who's that guy with him?
I don't know.
Must be his driver.
No. You mean his valet.
Well, welcome to the festivities.
Hey, David.
Hello, y'all.
Miss Terrell- Lookin' as fine as ever.
You too, baby.
Miss Terrell.
Tammi.
How you doin'?
What's up, little man?
Hey, Tammi.
How you doin'?
I'm gonna get somethin' to eat.
Do you want somethin '? I??? okay Don?
take too long, baby.
All right.
Hey, Tammi.
Are you gonna take Lamont over to
the sack races like you promised?
Sack races, like I promised.
Sack races!
Come on!
Okay.
All right.
Go do your family thing now.
Hope you win somethin'.
How you doin', man?
It's a pleasure to meet you.
I'm Flynn.
Flynn.
All right.
Nice to meet you. I'm Flynn.
Flynn who?
It's just Flynn.
Flynn's my man.
How are you?
Good. I'm enjoyin' this picnic.
Go get that bitch.
All right.
How y'all doin'? Nice to meet you.
Hey-
- David wants to talk to you.
- Excuse me.
David, can we talk to you for a second?
Hey, hey, hey.
Yeah. About what?
About rehearsal and about Tammi.
Tammi?
Yeah.
What about Tammi?
Why don't you go
easy with Tammi?
What am I supposed to do? Let her
flirt with every man in the park?
You know how women are.
She just needs some attention.
Yo, I don't trust no woman.
Maybe the problem is, you need
to show her some respect-
Y'all is mama's boys,
And you don't know nothin'
about me and women.
Excuse me.
Whoa.
Hmm.
How you doin'?
What's up, David?
What's goin' on?
All right.
We cum here, okay'?
Where are we gain"?
Where are we gain'?
Come on.
We just got here, David.
You're tryin' to embarrass me in front of all
these people. I wish I hadn't married you-
Did you see that?
Yeah.
J1 I know you wanna leave me J1
J1 But I refuse to let you go J1
I1 If I have to beg and plead
for your sympathy J1
J1 I don't mind 'cause
it means that much to me J1
D Ain't too proud to beg
and you know it III
- They love it when I do that, don't they?
- Yeah, man-
Hey, fellas, how you doin'?
Treats, baby.
Flynn, or whatever your name is,
you need to go.
J1 But if I have to fight
to keep you J1
J1 I don't mind weepin' J1
Okay, Dave.
I'm gonna leave you boys
a little sunshine.
Why don't you take that little
sunshine along with you?
Ooh.
We're gonna be friends.
Good friends.
J1 Ain't too proud J1
Boy, Norman just kept
whippin' us and whippin' us...
The other day, huh?
I don't think I can
get any better, though.
That ain't the way I see it.
Oh, yeah?
Well, hit me up.
For one, you missed
a very important meeting.
Not to mention our last few sessions. I'm
not even gonna count the rehearsals.
And it's probably because of all this
crap you keep shovin' up your damn nose-
Well, maybe I don't need as much
rehearsal as some other folks.
David, this can't go on.
What you got to say, Blue?
"That's right, Otis.
Whatever you say, Otis. "
No, David.
It's like this.
Either you gonna straighten up...
or we're lettin' you go.
Blue, you all right with that?
I'll miss you, but not if
you're hurtin' the group.
Hurtin' the group? I'm the best thing
that ever happened to this damn group!
Nobody's bigger than the group.
Yeah, well, they ain't stupid.
I'm the one sellin' the records.
They cumin' to see me.
They comin' to see
The Temptations.
Ain't nobody comin'
to see you, Otis.
You wish you could
work it the way I do,
But you can't, 'cause there is
only one David Ruffin.
And without him, ha,
The Temps ain't nothin' but
a group in search of a David Ruffin.
As a matter of fact,
I've been thinkin'.
We should call the group...
David Ruffin and The Temptations.
Yeah.
That sound good to me.
Y'all beggin' me not to leave you.
J1 And I refuse to let you go J1
Yeah.
David Ruffin and The Temptations.
Hmm.
What do you say?
That ain't never gonna happen.
Then I'm gone.
Fellas.
Fellas, you know I'm
just kiddin', right?
Come on, you know
I always be kiddin'.
Yo, fellas, we successful now.
Lighten up.
You's too uptight.
Enjoy the fruits.
I'm gonna see you
at rehearsal.
I'm gonna be there on time. I'm
gonna be there before y'all-
Bye. Thanks for comin' over.
They tickle me.
They believed rne.
I am talking crossover, gentlemen.
Crossover- I'm talking about
broadening our scope,
Getting you out in front of the
mainstream white audience.
Now, I brought
somebody in from L. A.
They're gonna manage
both you and The Supremes.
Rebecca, send Shelly in, please.
Thank you.
So, what's he gonna do?
I'm gonna let him
tell you himself.
Gentlemen, say hello
to your new manager,
Shelly Berger.
- Otis.
- Shelly.
It's a pleasure.
Melvin.
How you doin'? It's a pleasure.
Paul.
Eddie.
I'm a huge fan, fellas.
David's feeling a bit under the weather.
Couldn't be here today-
Why don't you explain
the plan to the guys?
The plan, gentlemen, is to get you
on all the major television shows,
Your own specials,
theater in the round, Las Vegas...
- And the Copacabana.
- How are you gonna do that?
Mr. Gordy's approved a four-week
tour with The Supremes,
And then we cut a new album--
an album with standards.
- Standards? - Talkin' middle-of-the-road,
white bread america stuff-
Burt Bacharach,
"Man of la mancha, "
Henry Mancini.
What's this album supposed to do...
Besides piss off our fans?
It gets us to the Cope, Paul.
And that opens the door
to all the rest.
It all sounds like
great money to me.
Listen, guys.
This is a major step for you
and for Motown.
Look, look.
What's so wrong with what we're doin' now?
Hell, we're the biggest--
- Biggest black group in the business.
- What's wrong with that?
Nothin'.
We're talkin' about bein'
the biggest group, period.
The biggest group in the world.
So, what do you think?
Right now, I really don't think
it matters much what I think.
Gordy says he's gonna put
a lot of money in this project.
It ain't about the money.
I mean, look.
Our music, that's who we are.
Man, radio made us.
Do you really think that the jocks are
gonna get behind a bunch of sellouts?
Come on, man.
Come on.
Why don't you give it a chance?
The "Mellow Mood" album
did what it was supposed to do.
We made it to the Copa.
At least, most of us did.
Where the hell's Ruffin?
You tell me, because I don't know.
How much time we got?
Two minutes.
This is getting old.
Otis.
Melvin, fellas.
Where's David?
Oh. We gotta talk.
No, we don't need
to talk to you.
- Maybe before.
- Before what?
Before I became David's manager.
Manager? What the hell are you
talkin' about? Where is he?
Y'all go on as David Ruffin and
The Temptations, he's right here.
You tell David
that we goin' on with...
or without him.
So that's a "no"?
That would be a "get out"...
or be thrown out.
Okay -
I have had I! with his crap.
I know, I know.
We gm mo much cumin' up.
We need David.
What?
J1 I never met a girl who makes
me feel the way that you do IJ
IJ You're all right D
D Whenever I'm asked
who makes my dreams real III
J1 I say that you do D
JII you're outta sight JII
D So fee fi o ium I1
D fee fi E0 Eum D
J7 Look out, baby tease here I come
J7 fl Look out; here I come IJ
J1 I'm bringin' you
a love that's true J1
IJ So get ready so get ready D
J7 ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, baby J7 J7
gonna try to make you love me too J7
IJ so get ready, so get ready
'cause here I come III
Jil Get ready 'cause here I come III
I! I'm on my way I!
Jil Get ready 'cause here I come III
D And I'm bringin' you
a love that's true JII
- I! So get ready I1
- D So gek ready D
J7 Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, baby J7 J7 I'm
gonna try to make you love me too J7
J1 So get ready, so get ready
'cause here I come III
J7 Get ready 'cause here I
come J7 J7 I'm on my way J7
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I'm David Ruffin, and these are
The Temptations.
I1 Your love is fadin'
I can feel your love fadin' J1
J1 Girl, it's fadin' away from me J1
I1 'Cause your touch
your touch has grown cold J1
I1 as if someone else
controls your very soul J1
D I've fooled myself
as long as I can III
IJ I can feel the presence
of another man III
J1 It's there when you speak my name J1
J1 Speak my name II
I! R's 'yust not the same I!
III Ooh, baby I'm losin' you Jil
I! R's 'm the air I!
D R's everywhere D
III Ooh, baby I'm losin' you Jil
I! Losin' you I!
I! Losin' you I!
J1 When I look into your eyes J1
III a reflection of a face I see J1
J1 I'm hurtin', downhearted
and worried, girl II
J1 'Cause that face
doesn't belong to me J1
III Oh, it's all over your face J1
III Someone's taken my place Jil
J7 Ooh, little girl
I'm losin' you III
D You m] hard to hide D
D The emptiness inside D
III Ooh, baby I'm losin' you Jil
J1 I don't wanna lose you J1
J1 I don't wanna lose you, babe J1
Yeah!
D I can tell when we kiss
from the tenderness I miss III
J7 Ooh, little girl
I'm losin' you III
III I can feel it in my Bones J7
III Any day you'll be gone Jil
J1 Oh, baby I'm losin' you J1
I! Oh, my dear I!
D What happened to
the love we shared III
I! Losin' you I!
D Oh, I'm losin' you IJ
Did you see everybody
stand up and go,
"Yes, David!
Yes, David!
You should've seen their faces
when I laid it on 'em.
"I am Mr. Ruffin's manager,
and he ain't goin' on. "
They almost wet their pants.
Otis's face?
Pitiful.
And you ain't even bein'
unreasonable, baby.
Martha Reeves and The Vandellas.
Uh-huh.
- Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.
- Of course not!
- Junior Walker and The All Stars.
- David Ruffin and The--
What's their name?
David's history.
Wait a second.
- You think about this- - Think about it?
Get your stuff together, Mel.
You're flyin' on a big hate.
Look, man.
David is a big pain in the butt.
So he is out.
This ain't the way we do things.
We have to vote.
All right.
I vote he's gone.
I say he stays.
Paul?
Look, I say--
hell, I say he goes.
- Okay? So he's out.
- Mel ain't said.
Go on.
Tell him, Mel.
I ain't so sure, Al.
I mean, this is a big step.
We made the group!
We can't let him break us apart!
I'm not sayin' that he
didn't mess up, right?
But David has always been David.
You know that.
And you know he don't give
a damn about nobody but David.
Finish the damn vote, Mel.
In or out?
David.
I need you to read this, please.
What--
Are you crazy?
I'm sorry.
Y'all is stupid!
David, please.
Get off me! Y'all ain't
nothin' without me!
I made your asses!
You can't fire mel
Do you hear me?
Do you hear me?
Y'all can't do me like this!
You ungrateful son-of-a-bitches!
So now what?
We want The Temps!
We want The Temps!
We want The Temps!
We want The Temps!
We want The Temps!
We want The Temps!
We want The Temps! We want The Temps!
We want The Temps!
Lord, continue
to shine your love on us,
and continue to bless
brother Dennis,
Who's lifted us
higher than ever.
Amen.
Amen.
So you all ready to kick some butt?
Oh, you damn right.
Temptations forever?
Temptations forever.
Dennis Edwards,
our old friend from The Contours,
replaced David Ruffin.
He was a great singer...
And a lot less trouble
than David had been.
J1 Childhood part of my life it
wasn't very pretty you see IJ
J1 I was born and raised
in the slums of the city III
JII It was a one-room shack that slept
ten other children beside me IJ
III We hardly had enough food
or room to sleep JII
J1 It was hard times J1
D Needed somethin'
to ease my troubled mind III
D I'm doin' fine I!
D Up here on cloud nine D
D Lisken one more time D
D I'm doin' fine I!
D Up here on cloud nine D
J1 You can be what you wanna be J1
- J1 Cloud nine IJ
- III You ain't got no responsibility III
J1 cloud nine J1
J1 Every man every man is free J1
IJ Cloud nine D Jil You're a
million miles from reality IJ
D Reality is over III
D Oh, yeah D
D Over, up, up and high D
J1 On cloud nine J1
- D You're as free as a bird in flight D
- J7 Cloud nine IJ
J1 There's no difference
between day and night II
J1 Cloud nine J1 J1 It's a
world of love and harmony J1
IJ Cloud nine D Jil You're a
million miles from reality IJ
D Reality is over III
- fl Oh, yeah J7
- .57 Over; up J7
IJ Up and high
on cloud nine III
I1 You can be
what you wanna be D
- J7 Cloud nine J7 - J7 You
ain't got no responsibility J7
D Choud nine D I! Every man
and his mind is Eree D
J1 Cloud nine J1
The audience loved every song
we did that night.
Thank you. Thank you.
It's so good to be
back home... In Detroit--
Where it all began.
Detroit!
And before we say good night,
We'd like to leave you with a song
that you made one of our biggest hits-
I love you too.
J1 I know you wanna leave me J1
Jil but I refuse to let you go III
I1 If I have to beg and plead
for your sympathy J1
I1 I don't mind 'cause you mean
that much to me J1
J1 Ain't too proud to beg
yes, you know it II
I1 Please don't leave me, girl I1
II don't you go J1
IJ Ain't too proud
to plead, baby, baby III
I1 Please don't leave me, girl I1
II don't you go J1
J1 Now I heard a cryin' man III
I! is ha a man I!
D with no sense of pride D
J1 but if I have to cry
to keep you J1
J7 I don't mind weepin' if it
will keep you by my side III
D Ain't too proud for beggin'
sweet darlin' JII
D Please don't leave me J1
IJ Whoa, don't leave me, girl J1
JII Don't you go JII III Ain't too
proud to plead, baby, baby IJ
I1 Please don't leave me, girl I1
J1 Don't you go J1
D Now I got a love so deep
in the pit of my heart III
IJ And each day
it grows more and more III
I1 I'm not ashamed to crawl
and plead to you, baby J1
J1 If pleadin' keeps you
from walkin' out that door II
J7 Ain't too proud to beg J7
J7 Yes, you know it I!
IJ Woo-hoe, don't leave me, girl IJ
IJ Please don't leave rne, girl III
D Don't you go D
IJ Ain't too proud
to plead, baby, baby III
I1 Please don't leave me, girl I1
J1 Don't you go J1
I! Baby, baby, baby I!
What's wrong with you, man?
You out of your damn mind?
I'm gonna whoop your ass!
- Do you hear that? Do you hear that?
- More! More!
More! More!
I'm back- I quit all that stuff, 0t.
I told you he was clean-
- I don't care. - I'm straight,
man. Can't you see I'm straight?
He's straight.
Listen to him!
Man, tell me I'm back in the group, man.
Tell me I'm back-
No, you ain't in this group.
Don't you get it?
- You blew it. - The crowd went
wild when he went on stage.
He's the one who blew it, Corn.
Paul. Corn.
Blue, baby.
All lim asking y'all is for another chance.
Come on, now.
David, I'm sorry, but you got to go.
Get out or get carried out.
I ain't goin' nowhere- You said I was a
temp for life. How 'bout that promise, 0t?
You ain't no Temptation no more!
Y'all ain't the same
without me!
Oh, yeah? Not the same,
but nominated for a Grammy.
That's mine! No, no! That
ain't you on "Cloud nine. "
That's Dennis' voice.
David! Shelly, tell 'em that
you ain't the same without me-
Please show Mr. Ruffin the way out.
Come on, man- Tell 'em how y'all ain't
the same without rne. Tell them!
He ain't me!
He ain't no David Ruffinl
Get him out of here now- Yo! Without
David Ruffin, y'all ain't nothin'l
The Temps without David Ruffin
are some fake-ass Temps!
Do you hear me? You fake
imitations without David Ruffinl
Makin' a big mistake, Otis.
Ain't no one man bigger than this group.
Now you remember that-
All right. Come on, now.
That's my son's Grammy.
All right. Get close, now.
Get close, now. Get close.
Okay.
- Come on. Yeah. You got him?
Did it go?
Let's party!
All right. All right.
- I'll get that.
You know, me and Haze
almost jumped into the
When they said,
"Best R&B performance,
The Temptations! "
Everybody, it's Berry Gordy
calling from California.
It's Berry, y'all!
Hey, mama. I'll take that.
Oh, my god.
Berry. Berry!
Everybody, Berry said he's sorry he missed
the party, and he is so proud of us.
Yeah- We love you, Berry. We love you.
We love you.
Yes, yes.
You know we love you.
Yes. Couple of weeks,
la-la land.
The group is stronger
than ever. All right.
D You can be what you wanna be D
Paul- Honey-.
What? Why, baby?
Oh, stop.
Can't you put it down, baby?
No. I wanna make a toast.
All right? Okay.
Make your toast.
Damn,
you're makin' me forget.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
To Haze and Mama Rose.
Now you wanna drink to Haze and Mama
Rose, right? You wanna drink to them?
You know I wanna drink to them.
All right. Okay. Hey.
To Haze and Mama Rose,
for makin' all this possible.
Yeah!
All right?
Cheers. That's right.
Paul, I think-- look, let me
tell you something, all right?
You better leave me alone.
All right?
Hey. Hey, hey, Melvin.
Hey, listen.
D I can sayfl
J1 This is mine you can't take it J1
J1 as long as I know
I've got love II
I1 I can make it I1
J1 for once in my life J1
III I have someone who J7
I! needs me D
D Mmm, for once I!
D I can sayfl
J1 This is mine you can't take it J1
III As long as I know I have love J1
I1 I can make it I1
J1 for once I can feel J1
D Wat's somebody's D
I! heard my I!
J1 plea III
I! tor-- D
Oh, honey, honey!
Once--
Okay- All right. Let's go home now.
In my life--
No. I didn't finish singing the song
right here. You 're makin ' a scene.
I'm makin' a scene. Wh-what do you
mean, I'm makin' a scene? Huh?
- You're hurtin' me.
- Paul, let her go, all right?
- Get your hands off of her.
- Please don't embarrass us.
Don't embarrass you? Why? 'Cause I'm singing
lead I'm embarrassing you now, huh?
Hey, Eddie- Get up off me.
Hey, listen, man-
I sang this song on national TV.
Now I can't sing it in mama's house.
- Mama, can I sing this song?
- Paul. Paul.
Mama, can I-- I sang this song
on national-- come on, Paul-
Get him out of here!
Paul! Paul!
What's wrong with you?
- Come on now.
It's all right, baby.
It's all right.
At least we did somethin'
great together.
Could help you, uh,
tuck him in tonight.
Otis, how long
has Paul been like this?
Just seemed to sneak up on him,
and one day he was someone else.
Hell. I mean, he's the one who
would never even take a drink.
What are you gonna do?
Wish I knew.
Mama, come on.
Hey.
Just, uh--
Lamont!
Come over here.
Say good-bye to your daddy.
By now, Josephine and I had
been separated for some time.
She made it clear that we were not gonna
get back together every time I saw her.
Take care of yourself.
Go- Race you!
In here we're seeing
perioticular erosion,
Which explains your pain
and limited range of motion.
And up in these areas, evidence
of joint space narrowing...
Compatible with
cartilaginous thinning.
In a nutshell, if you don't
hang up your dancing shoes,
you're gonna find yourself
trading them in for a walker.
Do you hear me, Melvin?
Well, you know my mama bundled
me up every day of my life,
And I still wind up
with rheumatoid arthritis...
But I'm dealin' with it.
Not with cortisone, you're not.
The stuffs not a medicine, Melvin.
Just eases the symptoms.
Ain't that what I want, doc?
No.
You keep doubling up your shots, arthritis
may be the least of your problems.
You ever been a part of
something bigger than yourself?
It's a beautiful thing, doc.
Your system needs a rest.
Yeah.
Can't rest,
so just give me the shot.
As your doctor,
I have to tell you.
You're taking a big risk. I can't think
about that noun I just need the shot.
When can you think about it? Look.
Just give me the shot.
Please- D Psychedelic shack
that's where it's at IJ
J7 Psychedelic shack
that's where it's at J7
J7 Ooh, yeah J7 J7 Psychedelic
shack that's where it's at J7
J7 Psychedelic shack
that's where it's at III
I! Yeah D
Jil Ooh D III They got a cat
there shoutin' the blues J1
III Talkin' 'bout payin' some clues J1
I1 People walkin' around
recitin' poetry J1
D Yeah, screamin' guitars D
J1 and a thousand colored lights J1
I1 Baby, I'm tellin' you this
place is really out of sight II
J1 You can have your fortune told J1
Jil You can learn the meaning of soul III
- .17 I guarantee this place will blow
your mind .0 - J7 Blow your mind J7
- J1 Don't you know it's IJ
- III Right around the corner JII
IJ Oh, yes J1
III Just across the track IJ
D People, I'm talkin' about III
J1! the psychedelic shack, yeah III
- J7 Psychedelic shack that's
where iris at J7 -flGeton up/J
J7 Psychedelic shack that's where
it's atJ7 J7 Mama, mama, mama J7
J7 Psychedelic shack that's
where it's at/J fl whoa J7
I! Yeah D
DHey I!
Paul--
Paul!
That was a disaster. Yeah, Shelly.
We know, all right?
Next show's in 45 minutes.
No way he'll be ready.
- He'll be ready. - Falling down drunk
doesn't get better in 45 minutes.
You know what we have to do, Otis.
No. If Paul's not on that
stage, I'm not on that stage.
The Temptations are known for precision.
I don't know what that was.
What's it to you, Shelly? You ain't
up there. I might as well be, Eddie.
Mr- Gordy holds me responsible for
everything that goes on out there.
I'm responsible for Paul.
Yeah, Eddie? Then where we you
when he was getting plastered?
I said it.
I ain't goin' on without Paul.
Tell 'em to turn down the lights
on Paul. Richard.
I need to talk to you.
J1 I can turn the grayest sky blue J1
I1 I can make it rain
whenever I want it to J1
J1 Oh, I J1 J1 I can build a castle
from a single grain of sand IJ
IJ I can make a ship sail
huh, on dry land III
Jil Ooh D JII But my life is
incomplete and I'm so blue IJ
J1 'Cause I can't get
next to you, girl III
IJ I can't get next to you, babe
III J1 No matter what I do IJ
D Just can't get next to you D
III I can't get next to you, babe III
D I can't get next to you
I III
I1 can fly like a bird in the sky I1
J1 Hey, I can buy anything
that money can buy II
JJ Oh, 1/2 J7 I can turn a
river into a ragin ' fire J
III I can live forever if I so desire D
.FI Ooh JII III Unimportant are
all these things I can do J3
- .6' Cause I carftget next to you, babe
J7 - fl I can '1' get next to you fl
J7 I can't gel next to you J7
fl no matter what I do J7
I! Oh, oh, yeah, yeah I!
II Chick-a-boom
chick-a-boom III
D Chick-a-boom-boom-boom I!
II Chick-a-boom
chick-a-boom III
D Chick-a-boom-boom-boom I!
Poor Richard.
He was more nervous singing off
stage than he had ever been...
When he sang with us
in the early days.
We have to take turns
watchin' out for Paul--
Be with him 24 hours a day,
keeping him off the bottle.
Then he'll be all right.
For how long, Eddie?
Long as it takes.
Well, we gotta keep Paul here.
Things just got to be
too much, doc. You know?
Is he gonna be all right? I don't know
if Paul's ever gonna perform again-
Physically,
he might not be up to it.
I have to get back to Paul.
Richard could fill in for Paul
until he's well enough. No.
Eddie-- I said no. Paul's
not leavin' the group-
- He can't talk, corn.
- You need to check yourself, Otis-
There's nothin' wrong with
Richard doin' the concerts.
"Everybody for the group. "
who's the group for?
Who did it ever stand up for? Who
did it ever make sacrifices for?
Now you want Paul gone.
You think we could've gotten a
contract with Motown without Paul?
Waitin' for Paul to get well
could mean The Temptations die.
Think about it, Eddie.
Paul wouldn't want that.
It's just until he gets better.
Otis is gonna throw Paul away
like Alabama trash.
I don't wanna let him.
I'm tryin' to save Paul.
I used to have a soul, Melvin.
Corn.
Ah, it's good to see you, man.
You're lookin' sharp as usual.
I knew you'd show up eventually, though.
I heard about Paul-
They got the doctors and everybody
in on it. And you next.
Me?
Yeah, you.
I sang my girl, " "ain't too proud to beg.
" look what they did to me.
Paul is gonna be gone,
and that's your boy.
Shark's eatin' his own guts, Corn.
And after you, ain't gonna
be nothin' but Ot and Blue.
And he gonna eat blue too 'cause
that's the way them types is.
Better quit.
Save yourself some dignity.
You don't know what you're
talking about, Ruff.
We're supposed to be back in the studio.
When Paul gets better, we got the tour.
Yeah. The tour.
Hey, Corn.
You 're bigger than them, Corn-
just like I was bigger than them.
And you wait till your next hit.
They gonna come after you.
You better leave...
Before you get fired.
Go ahead.
Nothin' but the best.
Hey! Look who's back.
Baby!
Yeah. All right.
Oh, man. Hey. Yeah. All right.
All right.
I'm glad to see you, Paul.
Oh, well, you know
I'm not gonna miss a smash.
So you heard.
Yeah. Eddie told me. He said
we got a guaranteed smash.
Yeah. Norman outdid himself
on this one.
Hey.
And then, baby--
Then, we're takin' it
straight to the Copa, you know?
- Oh. Oh, the, oh, me Copa.
- Yeah.
Thought we weren't takin'
any gigs till Paul got well.
Well, you know- Somethin'
came up, we had to take it.
Then we go on tour
right after.
With Paul, right? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm, I'm goin', right?
- Hey. Hey, if you're feelin' up to it.
- Yeah, he's up to it-
Yeah, yeah. You know me.
I'm up to it. Whoa!
Hey, baby.
All right, baby.
- Well, let's just see how the rehearsals
go, huh? - All right. All right-
All right.
It's good to have you back.
Ladies, can we check some levels?
All right. All right.
You gotta be ready.
You hear me?
Oh, baby. I'm ready.
Yeah?
D Each day through my window D
I1 I watch her as she passes by I1
D 0h, yeah D
III I say to myself JZI
J1 You're such a lucky guy J1
J1 To have a girl like her J1
IJ is truly a dream come true D
D Out of all of the fellas
in the world JII
I! She behngs m me I!
IJ But it was just my imagination
J1 J1 Just my imagination J3
D Runnin' away with me D
I1 It was just my imagination J1
D Runnin' away with me D
J1 Shoo J7
IJ Every night on my knees I pray III
- J1 Dear lord J1
- J1 Hear my plea J1
D Don't ever let another
take her love from me JII
J1 or I will surely die J1
.0' Her love is JJ
fl Hes ven/J/ .0
D When her arms enfold me IJ
J1 I hear her tender rhapsody J1
D but 'm reafity D
I! she doesn't even know me D
D Just my imagination D
D Once again D
D Runnin' away with me D
I1 It was just my imagination J1
D Runnin' away with me D
J1 I never met her
I can't forget her II
fl Just my imagination .57
D Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah D
D Runnin' away with me D
I1 It was just my imagination J1
D Runnin' away with me D
Paul still wasn't well enough
to come back,
And David's words
had hit their mark.
Eddie Kendricks quit
The Temptations.
Come on.
Let's see what you got.
I'm not impressed with all that
fancy stuff, huh? Yeah, I see you.
Come on. See, that's a double dribble.
You can't do that, Lamont-
Sure I can. Oh, no, no.
See, that's cheatin'.
Shut up and play, dad.
Ooh!
That's what you get.
Missed. Hey.
Hey.
Oh, okay.
Wanna play like that, huh?
Yeah. Go! Go!
Come on!
Come on-- boy, what is wrong with you?
You don't play fair.
Why are we even playin'
this stupid game anyway?
'Cause I wanna spend
a little time with my son.
Since when? I wish you'd
just stay on the road.
That how you feel, Lamont?
Lamont.
Lamont, you my son.
So you go on and say
what you feel you need to.
Why you always on the road?
It's my job.
That's what I do.
It's your job to be my father.
Yeah, that's right.
So do it.
Be my father.
Come here, huh?
You know I love you, hmm?
Mm-hmm.
Startin' right now, right here,
I want you with me every step of
the way, okay?
You mean it?
Yeah, I mean it, little Knucklehead.
Huh? Okay- Come on!
Otis!
Oh! He Maxine. Good to see you.
Paul's been waitin' on you.
Now is that my angel?
Angel, my foot. The angel just
whooped my butt in basketball.
You better come give me a hug.
Oh, look at you. You're so big.
Well, you go on in.
Urn, Paul's in the living room.
Hey! He-hey! Look what the
cat done drug in here!
Lamont, you want me to get you some pop?
I'm all right.
Yeah, that'd be great, Maxine- Hey, bud.
How are you doin'?
Little Knucklehead- Why don't you come
over here and sit with your uncle Paul?
Get on down right here. What you been
doin'? You been playin' basketball?
Huh?
Real good, s0--
How you feelin', uncle Paul?
Oh, hey.
Hey, you know what?
I'd feel a whole lot better...
If your daddy's offerin' to
let me back in the group, huh?
But you know nothin' would make me happier.
But you gotta get well first.
So, um, when's the next tour?
Starts in Cleveland
at the end of the month.
Cleveland.
Cleveland in a month, huh?
Well, then why don't you,
why don't you let me back?
Why don't you help
your aunt Maxine?
Yeah. Go on.
Are you still drinkin', Paul?
No, man. Nah, nah- I've been, I've
been sober for about three months now.
- What did the doctor say?
- Th-that doctor don't know...
Th-that just bein' out there on that
stage-- you know what I'm sayin'?
Bein' out there on that stage is the
only thing that's gonna fix me, huh?
Oh, you know ma, Ot, man. We, we
walked into Motown together; man.
Man, I'm goin' crazy
out here, sittin'--
Just sittin' out here like this.
Man, don't make me call up Eddie and David.
Don't make me do that, man.
I'll start my own group.
Okay? You want me to do that?
I'll start-- pretty soon, there's gonna
be more ex-Temptations than Temptations.
Better think about that.
0t.
0t, man.
or, listen to me, man.
You listen to me, man.
I'm gonna die.
I swear, I'm gonna die.
All right. You know, so when we-- no.
I'm, I'm gonna show you.
I'm gonna show you I'm ready for this. I'm
gonna show you Paul Williams still got it.
Big Mr. Otis- I'm gonna prove to you
I-- look, these are the steps here-
J1 If good looks was a minute J1
Right? Mmm.
I taught you these damn steps.
D You could have been an hour D
right? Mmm-.
Jil The way you stole my heart III
J1 Ooh, ooh, you know
you could have been a cool-- II
Hey, man.
You all right?
Hen men, don't- 1001K man. I don't need
no hey), men. I got this. All right?
Yeah. I got the steps, right?
You doin' better.
You damn right. I'm doin' better, man.
So just--
Just come on. You damn right. Right.
I got 'em, right? I'm doin' this.
I'm all right, man. Okay?
Now I got the steps, right?
Come on. Maxine,
I think it's time we go.
Y-you think it's time
that you go?
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
What, you gonna leave here
without givin' me an answer?
You gonna always be
a Temptation, Paul.
I mean, all the guys
can't wait for you to get back.
But you just not ready now.
Maxine, good-bye.
Oh, baby.
He's an arrogant, pompous snake, Shelly.
Read that-
What am I reading?
"the third of September. "
What about it? Norman's got that man
dyin' the same day my daddy died.
He won't change the date- Well,
that's why we called you, Shelly--
Because he refuses
to change the date.
Where's Norman?
Norman's late.
As a matter of fact, Shelly,
Norman is always late.
Now we've been sitting here,
waiting for hours now, right?
Now, Shelly, that ain't right- So believe
me when I say somethin's gotta change.
I am gonna hurt him, Shelly,
if he don't make this right.
Why you let him treat us like this, huh?
Where's Berry?
Mr: Gordy sent ma. Have you talked to
him, Otis 7 No, I tried' to talk to him.
Otis, did you talk to Norman'? This
ain't no ballad. I told him a ballad.
He's writin' hits.
You can't argue with that.
Well, well, well! Sounds like the
creative juices are flowin'!
Norman.
Yeah- What's this "it was the
third of September" crap?
It's... Just a lyric. Wh-what,
you got a problem with it?
I think you know m y problem with it.
That was the day my daddy died.
So? I didn't know that.
- Oh, the hell you didn't.
- Change the date, Norman.
No, no.
Change the song.
I ain't changin' neither.
Then I ain't
singin' nothin'.
Edwards, look.
The third of September's
the day your daddy died, huh?
Now, man, how could I know that?
It's just a coincidence, but, but use it.
I mean, ain't that what artists do?
What did I ever do to you?
No passion,
but now you got some!
Just who are you to tell us
where passion is?
Man, what difference does it make? I
mean, as long as I'm writin' the hits.
You know what I'm sayin'?
The hits.
Now, when y'all get some
of this, maybe I'll listen.
Oh, come on, Norman- Uh, well, you know?
Makes me no never mind.
I mean, there are plenty of other
artists out there, linin' up,
Hopin' that I'll cut it
on them.
Now why don't everybody
just... Take it easy?
All right? Now since we pa yin
' for this session, whiz;
We're gonna do the song.
But after this,
thing's have got to change.
Good.
Let's go to work.
Why? Tell me why?
What do you mean, why?
I1 It was the 3rd of September I1
III That clay I'll always remember Jil
D Yes, I will J1
I! 'Cause mat was the day I!
I! that my daddy died I!
III I never got a chance to see him J7
D Never heard nothin'
but bad things about him JII
I1 Mama, I'm dependin' on you
to tell me the truth II
J1 Mama just hung her head
and said, son III
I1 Papa was a rollin' stone I1
D Wherever he laid his hat
was his home J1
I! and when he died D
J1 all he left us was alone I-l
I1 Papa was a rollin' stone I1
D Ah, yeah D
D Wherever he laid his hat
was his home J1
I! And when he died I!
J1 All he left us was alone J1
D We, we I!
I said I'm fine.
No. I'm gonna talk to them.
I'm gonna talk to them-- I'm
down there-- I'm goin' down--
I don't want you to- You need to stop
doing this in front of our children!
I'm telling you that you can't do
this in front of the-- in front of--
Get out!
J1 Hey, mama, is it true
what they said II
D That papa never worked a day
'm his fife D
D And, mama, some bad talk
goin' around town JII
J1 Sayin' that papa had three
outside children and another wife J1
J1 And that ain't right J1
D Heard some talk about papa doin'
some storefront preachin' J1
D Talkin' about savin' souls
and all the time leachin' III
I! Deafin' 'm dirk D
J1 and stealin'
in the name of the lord J1
III Mama just held my head and said J1
J1 Papa was a rollin' stone IJ
III My son J1
D Wherever he laid his hat
was his home J1
I! and when he died D
J1 all he left us was alone I-l
D Hey
papa was a rollin' stone III
D Wherever he laid his hat
was his home J1
I! and when he died D
J1 all he left us was alone I-l
What's wrong with you all?
What, you want me
out of the way too?
Tempmfions forever!
Temptations...
Forever!
D Hey, mama, I heard papa call
himself a jack of all trades III
J1 Tell me, is that what
sent papa to an early grave II
J1 Folks said papa would beg
borrow or steal J1
I! to pay his dues I!
I! Hey, mama I!
J1 Folks said papa never was much
on thinkin' J1
D Spent most of his time
chasin' women and drinkin' III
I! Mama, I'm dependin' on you I!
J7 To tell me the truth III
J1 Mama looked up with a tear
in her eye and said, son J1
I1 Papa was a rollin' stone I1
II Yes, he was J1
JII My son J1 J1 Wherever he
laid his hat was his home
I! and when he died D
J1 all he left us was alone I-l
J1 My daddy was JII
J7 papa was a rollin' stone III
D Yes, he was, yeah D
D Wherever he laid his hat
was his home J1
But you've worked so hard!
You said, Temptations forever!
He'! -
HEY -
Just keep lookin' at the box,
Tryin' to wrap my mind
around the fact that I...
Buried my best friend today.
You know, if it wasn't for Paul,
I would have never left Birmingham.
Is that right?
Yeah.
You know how he could be--
Pushy as hell.
Yes.
So, what do I do now, Blue?
You live,
and that's...
That's hard.
I ain't even gonna lie
to you about that.
But... We move on.
Always the rock.
You gonna be all right?
Yeah.
See you around.
Yeah.
Corn?
We'll always be family.
Nothin's goin' right since
we moved to California, Shelly.
We ain't had a hit since "Shaky ground, "
and that's, what, two and a half years ago?
Whitfield ain't changed,
and Berry's off makin' movies.
Los Angeles ain't been very good
to us, shell. Things will change.
Well, I don't see how. I guarantee
it'll change for the better-
Every group
goes through a dry spell.
We're not talkin' about
some dry spell here, Shelly.
Come on, Blue.
We're talkin' family here.
This ain't about you, Shelly.
We just think it's time to go.
Every relationship has its ups and downs. You
don't walk out on the first sign of trouble.
Well, that sign's been worn out
from flashin'.
You know what?
I don't accept this.
Well, don't accept it.
Just look up and see us gone.
This is the way
you treat me-- your friend.
You give me this to carry to Berry--
that you're leaving the Motown family?
We're trying to tell you it don't
feel like family no more, Shelly.
And believe me, Shelly,
you've been great to us.
Blue and myself
will never forget that.
Then give me a chance.
We can't.
Give me a couple of days.
We'll work it out.
All right.
I'll talk to Berry.
But, please...
Don't do anything yet.
So what now?
- Shop for a new label.
- And if no one takes us?
There you go
crossin' bridges again.
Don't talk to me like I'm some
damn fool, Ot. All right?
Hell, I! aln '1' like we 're
multimillionaire-s, slttin ' up in here.
Can't just retire
if things don't work out.
What's that supposed to mean?
Look, if it's money
you're worried about,
We'll be makin' a lot more touring
and singing golden oldies.
We'll make out.
All right?
Yeah.
We left Motown and went
to Atlantic Records.
The first shock was that they
sent us to their black division.
Suddenly, it was more
about color than music.
Motown had spoiled us, but we
could always work someplace...
Because people loved
those early hits.
Man, we only sold half the house.
Well, half a house
still deserves a great show.
You know, we gotta be strong
examples for the new guys.
Yeah, you're right.
It wasn't lost on us...
II Boogie down J1
That Eddie had two number one
records for Motown.
David had hits right after
he became an ex-Temptation,
But by this time,
he was in a dry spell too.
J1 Let's boogie down JII Not
that I was rootin' against them,
But I'd be lyin' if I said we
didn't still feel the competition.
As I think about it,
Every time I thought
things couldn't get worse,
They up and did.
Oh, my god.
Uh, excuse me, Miss.
Hey, how you doin'?
Oh, oh, oh, come on, now.
You can't run away from me. I'm not some
thief-- some thug. Just wanna talk to ya.
Let me help you with those.
Thanks.
You welcome. What's your name?
Angela-
I would have helped you sooner,
but you were walking too fast.
Hey! Hey, man! Hey!
That's my car, man-
Come on!
Hey, you ain't takin' my car. I
said you ain't takin' my car, man.
Hey, don't I know you, man?
Unless it's hilda gonna give me
my sponge bath, I'm sleepin'.
Oh, it's you.
No sponge.
There sure is an angel
on your shoulder.
Do you know how lucky you are?
Do you know? Everyone keeps
trying to tell me how lucky I am-
"Melvin, you so lucky. "
Probably the only cat in town
that got shot yesterday.
Now if that's lucky, you best
believe I don't want any.
Yeah, I know that's right- Did
the guy think he killed you?
Mmm, I don't know.
I guess that's the freaky thing.
You know, we up in my car,
wrestlin' and stuff,
And the next thing I know,
he pulls out a gun...
And ham, bam.
Then all of a sudden,
he recognized me,
And he kicked my butt out my car.
He recognized you?
Mm-hmm.
Was it Ruffin?
Nah. Ruffin would have killed me.
So when you all head off
on this european tour?
Oh, no, no- We're not gonna go.
No, no.
You gotta go, man. You can't sit
around here, waitin' for me to heal.
We need the money.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah. I'm sure.
I mean, at least we're still
hot over there, right?
I sure hope so.
I'll be ready when you get back.
So, Four Temptations
went off to Europe.
For the first time,
I was without my partner.
When the tour was over, I needed
a rest, so I went home to Haze.
Your mama ain't been
feelin' too well.
What's the matter?
Well, I'll let her tell ya.
Haze.
Come on- Let's go inside and see
what your daddy brought you.
Yes, ma'am.
Come on.
Mama.
Mama?
Oh.
Bab)'-
Ah.
It's so good to have you back home.
Yeah.
How are you feelin'?
Better now.
And what was wrong?
Some doctor says I got cancer.
Mm-mm.
Cancer?
Nah. It ain't nothin'.
You know, the treatment's
worse than the disease.
I was feelin' fine
till they started curin' me.
Why didn't you call me, hmm?
Because I'm gonna beat this,
Otis.
I am. Ain't no cancer
gonna keep me down.
Me and Rose and Edgar-
Yeah. We gonna be right front and
center when y'all play Vegas.
- I know that's right.
- That's right.
And we gonna meet--
Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy Davis Jr. I
Anything else?
Oh, no, baby.
No.
You done given me...
Everything already.
You set out and done just
what you set out to do.
And I want you to know...
That to me you ain't just
a success in show business.
The way you come through
the rough times...
And continue
to keep it together.
You a success as a man.
You a success as a man.
Hey, hey. What's
with the weepy eyes, huh?
Oh, baby, I, uh--
You've made me so happy.
I could cry if I'm happy,
can't I?
I love you.
Oh, my sweet baby boy.
Oh.
J1 Sunshine, blue skies J1
D Please go away IJ
J1 My girl has found another
and gone away J1
D with her went my future D
J1 My life is filled with gloom D
J1 So day after day
I stay locked up in my room J1
III I know to you J1
III It might sound strange J1
D but I wish it would rain J1
I! Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I!
I spent as much time
as I could with Haze...
Before it was time to tour again.
The good news was that
Melvin was back in action.
But our records on Atlantic
were not happening.
We left there
right after one album.
And for the first time
since we were the dist/ants,
The Temptations
didn't have a record deal.
Although Eddie had been really
successful after he left us,
by this time, his fortunes
were the same as ours...
And he was back to playin' small
clubs like Chappy's Lounge.
D Keep on truckin', baby D
D Got k0 keep on truckin' D
I1 Got to get
to your good lovin' J1
I! Yeah D
D Shame I!
I1 I've let it control me I1
I! Yeah D
III But as long as I am inspired J1
J1 and those lovers talk by the fire J1
I1 Oh, keep on truckin'
baby D
Jil I got to get to your good lovin' III
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen,
one of the greatest Temptations,
And one of my closest friends,
is in the audience.
Help me welcome Mr. David Ruffin.
Would you be upset if I asked him
to join me for a song?
David and I sang...
on some of The Temptations'
biggest records.
Let's see if we can bring
some of that magic back tonight.
D You surely must know magic, girl IJ
fl Because you
changed my life J7
J1 it was dull and ordinary J1
J1 but you make it
sunny and bright J1
IJNowfl
D I was blessed the day I found you IJ
IJ Gonna build my whole world
around you III
J1 You're everything good, girl
and you're all that matters II
Dtomel-l
IJ Baby, you're part
of every thought III
J1 I think each clay D
D Your name's used 'm every phrase D
n my lips say J1
I1 Every dream I dream
is about you J1
J7 Honey, I can't live
without you J7
D Baby, baby D
D Baby, baby D
D Baby D
J7 You're my everything J7
I! You're my everyming I!
IJ Don't you know, baby
you're my everything III
J7 When my ways were dark J7
J1 Everything I1
J1 And troubles were near J1
I! Oh, you're my everything I!
J1! Ooh Jil
J1 Everything III
Mr. David Ruffin!
You know I'm not sayin'
that you my everything.
I wasn't tryin' to
embarrass you, though.
Man.
I'm gonna tell you, I've been
doin' my own thing for a while.
That applause we got tonight,
that was a Temptations thing.
We were the voices, David.
'course we were.
The people wanted us.
Still do.
Why don't we do
somethin' about it?
We're Temps, just as much
as Melvin and Otis.
They why don't we
do somethin' about it?
Me and you?
Yeah, that's what I'm sayin'.
I'm serious.
It's crazy.
Why?
First of all, we'll mess it up.
Yeah, you right.
But it could be a lot of fun.
Actually, it could be
a whole lot of fun.
Melvin and I looked up,
And there were
two groups of Temptations.
David and Eddie got with Dennis and two
other guys, and they went out on the road-
And the hardest part
was that we couldn't stop 'em.
D Because of the color of the skin IJ
J1 Run, run, run
but you sure can't hide II
IJ An eye for an eye
a tooth for a tooth III
J1 Vote for me
and I'll set you free III
D Rap on, brother D
D Rap on D
J1 Well, the only person talkin'
'bout love thy brother II
D is the preacher D
D and it seems nobody's
interested in learnin' III
I! but the teacher D
D Segregation, determination
demonstration, integration III
J7 Aggravation, humiliation
obligation to our nation III
D Ball of confusion III
D Ball of confusion III
J1 That's what the world
is today, hey III
J1 Around and around
and around we go III
J1 Where the world's headed
nobody knows J1
Melvin and I got with Berry,
and went back home to Motown.
Not long after that, someone came up with the
bright idea of putting together a reunion tour.
IJ Oh, great googamooga can't you
hear me talkin' to you now J1
D Ball of confusion III
Sometimes a good idea
should stay an idea.
What's you doin' here so early, man?
It's 1 :00-
I've been callin' you all mornin'.
What's wrong with your phone?
There's nothin'
wrong with my phone.
This place is a mess.
I told you.
All right, listen, man.
This is a big, big, big opportunity.
You with me, Ruff?
What you talkin' 'bout? It's early.
I'm talkin' 'bout Otis.
Motown and them want to put
together a reunion tour.
Who?
Motown, man.
Are you hearin' me? I don't know about
you, but I need this pretty bad.
I knew they'd come crawlin' back
sooner or later. See, David?
That's the same attitude that got
your ass fired in the first place.
I wasn't fired.
I quit.
Yeah. If you could convince
yourself of that,
How's about convincin' yourself
to show up and make this money?
I'll let you call it.
Good.
We gotta meet with Otis and Motown.
'Course we do.
'Cause we the voices,
And we know they want the voices.
- Blue, what's goin' on?
- Hey, Glen, Dennis.
Melvin, can you sign this?
Oh, absolutely.
Could I have your autograph?
Eddie.
How you doin'?
Hey, just like old times.
Thank you.
Even better.
Guys, come on.
We gotta rehearse.
Are you gonna make
another album?
Has anybody seen David?
An hour late is early for David.
Well, we got 15,
20 songs to do, guys.
What's that?
I don't know.
J7 Baby, I'm Iosin' you J7
He's early?
Well, I'll be!
You have got to be kidding.
Feelin' all right?
You got a fa var? Daylight sa
vings ain 't for another month.
And now it's gonna snow in California.
Hey, this is the new me.
I'm on time, and I'm ready to work.
Now, what y'all gonna do?
Excuse us, Mr. Ruffin.
We should work.
This is like Paul's favorite
move right here, right?
Hey! Hey! Hey!
Owl
There be some stiffness
in this room.
Thereis no stifiness. I??? fine.
Come on. To the right.
Ruff, show me that move
you used to do.
I used to come through it, put the
mike behind my back, turn around and--
Oh!
I ain't doin' that.
You know what I mean, right?
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Uh!
Yeah, a circle.
Yeah,
I wanna do this.
He seems to like it.
Get in the line.
There you go.
We still got it.
We've gotta keep it that way.
There you go, man.
Not bad, guys.
Not bad.
But we can do better, and we
can definitely dig deeper.
So just so you know,
if I have to,
I will be hard on you.
You should've never stopped
bein' hard on us.
He's right, 0t.
Some of us need that kind of stuff.
We're rehearsin' same time tomorrow.
How you doin'?
Pretty good.
I'm scared, Ot.
That it might actually
work this time?
Yeah. What you make
of Ruff, man?
One of them drugs he took must've
accidentally fixed his personality-
Don't worry about me.
I'm doin' just fine.
I'm not worried
about you, partner.
J1 I never met a girl who makes
me feel the way that you do IJ
IJ You're all right D
IJ whenever I'm asked who makes my
dreams real I say that you do IJ
III You're outta sight III
D So fee fi o ium I1
D Fee fi E0 mm D
- IJ Look out, baby 'cause here I come Jil
- J7 Here I come J3
J1 Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh J1 J1 Now
I'm bringin' you a love that's true J1
IJ So get ready so get ready D
J7 Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh J7 J7
Gonna try to make you Love me too J7
I'm in. I'm in. Oh, you in now.
- Now I'm in.
- You came in without any money.
You wanna see some money?
Yeah, I wanna see some money.
III So in love and sad as can be J7
J1 'Cause a pretty face
got the best of me J1
J1 Suddenly you came into my life III
J1 and gave it meaning
and pure delight III
J1 Now good looks I've learned
to do without J1
D 'Cause now I know it's love
that really counts J1
J1 Beauty's only skin deep
yeah, yeah, yeah J1
J7 I know that beaulfyis only skin
deep fl fl beautyis any skin deep IJ
J7 Yes, indeed J7
J7 Oh, yeah I!
D Now you speak your words
warm and sincere D
D It lets me know
that your love is near III
IJ A pretty face
you may not possess III
J1 but what I like about you
is your tenderness J1
J1 A pretty face may be
some guys' taste J1
.FI but I'll take lovin' in
its place III J1 Oh, yeah IJ
J1 I know JII D beauty's only
skin deep Yeah, yeah, yeah IJ
JII and you know that
beauty's only skin deep III
I1 Oh, baby
Oh, yeah D
I1 Beauty's only skin deep I1
J1 Whoo D
JII beauty's only skin deep III
D Yes, it is I1
D Oh, yeah D
I1 My friends ask
what do I see in you J1
J1 but it goes deeper
than the eye can view II
J1 You have a pleasin' personality IJ
Oh, my gosh!
J1 and that's an ever-lovin' III
D rare quafity D
J1 Now show me a girl
a girl that's fine II
J21 and I'll choose the one
with true lovin' every time III
J1 'Cause I know beauty's only
skin deep III Oh, my gosh!
D Whoo-hoo oh, yeah IJ
III Beauty's only skin deep III
J7 So if you're lookin' for a lover J1
J3 Oh, yeah III
IJ Don't judge a book by its cover JII
J3 Oh, yeah III
I! She may be fine on the outside I1
D Oh, yeah D
I! But so untrue on the inside I!
D Oh, yeah D
- IJ Oh, yeah J1
- J1! Beauty's only skin deep III
I! Yeah, yeah, yeah I1
D Oh, yeah D
J1 Beauty's only skin deep
Oh, yeah J1
D Whoo-hoo J1
JII beauty's only skin deep III
D I know IJ
Jil I know, I know
it's only skin deep III
I1 Yeah I!
D Oh, yeah D
I! Yeah D
D 0h, yeah D
Hello.
Hey, Jo.
How you doin', girl?
No, no.
He's in the shower.
Everything all right?
Oh, god.
I'm-- I'm so sorry, Jo.
No, no, no.
Let me, uh--
Let me tell him.
Let me do this, all right?
All right.
Bye.
Man, did you hear that applause?
We were tight tonight.
Whatever everybody did
before the show,
Tell 'em
don't change it.
Yeah, will do.
What, you drinkin'
for two now, Blue?
Who was that on the phone?
Have a drink with me.
You know we don't
have no time for that.
We got people we gotta
meet downstairs.
Have a drink with your friend.
I don't want a drink.
Who was that on the phone?
Josephine.
Is everything all right?
No.
Everything's not all right.
So lay it on me, man.
It's about Lamont.
He--
He fell from the third floor
of a construction site.
But he's gonna be all right?
No.
30-.
So you're telling me...
that my son is dead?
Are you telling me...
That my son's gone?
All right.
I can get through this.
I can-- I--
Oh, Blue.
Hey.
I'm fight here, OK.
You know?
I'm right by your side.
When I got back
from Lamont's funeral,
It was beginning to look like the reunion
tour couldn't survive the reunion.
And once again, David was David.
Well?
Bellman at the hotel said he put David's stuff
in his car early this morning, 6:00 A- M-
Dave was still wearing his tux.
And?
And he drove away.
So we don't know if he's gonna make
it to Cleveland. We can only hope.
What is this, huh? The third time?
I know-
He's doing this on purpose.
He knows we get paid based on
all seven temps bein' there.
The promoters were afraid of this.
No, I was afraid of this.
Benny, drive off.
Next city.
Front me a fifty.
What do I look like? A banker? My
autograph gotta be worth grand.
Oh, yeah? Who are you?
David Ruffin and The Temptations.
We deal in cash around here,
my man. Cash.
Come on, man.
Help--
I need cash.
Two tickets to tonight's concert.
I'll be there.
So lay some ice on me now.
You gonna perform?
That's right.
These tickets say
the concert is Saturday.
So?
So, today's Sunday.
It is?
Yeah.
In that case,
I ain't gonna be there.
Missed another show!
Help me out, will ya'?
I'm a star!
Sig, show Mr. Ruffin
the door.
Let's go, man. Hold on! Hold onl
Just wait a second.
Brand-new lincoln outside.
- I'll sign you over the pink slip.
- I ain't got that much.
Then give me what you got.
And get some more.
I know you can get some more.
Give me what you got.
Give me everything!
Take it easy, man!
Ease up!
And that lincoln
better be there, too.
Let's go check it out.
Wow.
You know what this means?
Yeah.
That we're gettin' old.
Gonna have to start lyin' about my age.
Like you don't already.
I hear you talkin' to them young girls.
Oh, brother, please.
Oh, now you're just
gonna run away.
See, you don't like the truth.
Ah, here they are.
The men of the hour are back.
Blue, Otis, congratulations.
My friends, you deserve it.
How about a toast?
A toss! it is.
What else?
Temptations forever.
Tempmfions forever.
Where're you goin'?
I wanna talk to you about somethin'.
Otis, can I have a word?
David, Eddie and Dennis
just walked in.
Shelly, you don't look
too happy to see us.
David, fellas.
ls there a problem?
No, there's no problem- It's just
that Otis wasn't expecting you.
We're cool. We'll just go up,
get our award, and split.
Don't let me get started on him.
Anyway, believe it or not,
I am happy to see you.
And congratulations.
Thanks, Shelly.
"My Girl, " "Cloud Nine, "
"Just My Imagination, "
"Papa was a rolling stone. "
Need I say more?
Ladies and gentlemen, the
rock and roll hall of fame...
is proud to welcome
The Tempting Temptations!
David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks,
Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin,
Dennis Edwards...
And posthumously, Paul Williams.
Here you go.
Hey, man.
Good to see you.
Congratulations, Otis Williams.
Mr. Ruffin.
Ahh!
Good to see you.
Good to see you too.
Eddie.
Otis.
You deserve this- Thank you, man.
Thank you-
For Paul.
Each of these guys had been
a major part of our success.
And here we were, together again.
And for the moment,
we were friends again.
IJ Well, you could've been
anything that you wanted to III
J1 but I can tell J1
D the way you do the things you D
He had come off the tour
with a briefcase full of money.
No one is exactly sure
what happened.
Almost a week went by before
the John Doe in the morgue...
was identified as David Ruffin.
All I know is it was a tragic loss.
Oh!
Hello.
Mrs. Franklin?
I know I must look like
a troublesome gangster,
But I was just wonderin' if you'd be so
kind as to let your son sing in my group.
We're good.
We really are.
Melvin, you come on out
from behind that tree...
and-and zip up that jacket.
You sure I won't
get whooped, mama?
Oh, child.
Mama, that's a lot of food
you got here, even for you.
You got enough to feed an army.
I don't know what came over me.
I was out there
in the kitchen cookin'...
And I was listenin' to
some of your early records.
And I started hearin'
Eddie and Paul and David,
All of 'em,
laughin' and carryin' on.
And my hands just took over,
And I started cookin' everything
that I remember everybody loved-
Yes, I did.
It's a lot of food, but...
It's all right.
Oh, baby, what--
what was it that got Eddie?
It was lung cancer, mama.
That's right.
That boy sure did love
my corn bread.
He was a sweet boy.
Y'all was sweet in your own way.
I see you still polish up
my Grammys there, mama.
Oh! Now, you know, that's right.
I keep 'em right here.
Yes, I do.
So I can see 'em every day.
I proud of y'all, baby.
Yes, I am.
Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
All right, Mall I want you to start
eatin ' somethin ' now, baby.
- Mama, I'm fine.
- I want you to eat today, baby.
- Mama--
- Put some stuff on your plate.
Stop fussin' with me,
all right? I'm fine.
All right.
How about somethin' to drink?
Okay- I got some lemonade in the
frigidaire. I'll be right back-
Look at this.
Look how young we were.
Do you have any regrets, Blue?
Ah, hell, no.
Now don't you go carryin' no regrets
around on them shoulders either, oat.
You know, about Paul...
or Eddie or David.
Or me.
'Cause above all the bad times,
you know,
We really had the best
of times, you know.
Yeah, we had some good times.
No, brother.
We had some crazy-ass times.
All right.
Here we go.
Here's the lemonade, Mel.
Thanks, morn.
Oh, lord, I left them
short ribs in the oven.
The short ribs?
No, no, mama.
No short ribs.
We can't eat no more.
We got to have the short ribs.
Mama, mama.
Let me get it, all right'? Show
y'all I'm still good for somethin'-
- You sure, baby?
- Yeah, I'm sure, mama.
In fact, I'm so sure, I'm gonna
take the long way around.
Watch me work.
I told you he's doing fine.
Lord have mercy.
Otis.
I wanna thank you.
For what?
For bein' what these boys
needed most.
And what was that?
Levelheaded.
You was the one that kept it
all together.
Yes, you were.
I wanna thank you.
Thank you.
You know, you were
always too kind.
But what we needed most
was a bass singer.
And you supplied that,
so thank you.
Mmm. Look at all this food.
Mmm-mmml
Blue, come on and hurry up and get in
here, boy, before this food gets cold.
I'm hungry.
Mmml
Melvin?
Blue?
Oh, Blue.
J1 I'm really gonna
miss you III
J1 It's really gonna be
different without you III
IJ Time is gonna be hot and slow D
D For the rest of my We D
I! I'm gonna be thinkin' about you I!
J1 Yes, I am III
D Time came when you had to go D
I1 I'll miss you my buddy J1
III I'll miss you my friend J1
fl I promise
my love for you J7
J7 Will never end J7
I! 'm your finest hour I!
I1 I was there with you I1
D and without you D
I! Things won't be the same I!
D But there's a higher power D
J1 That we answer to J1
IJ and you heard him
callin' your name III
J1 Really gonna miss you
everything about you III
J1 Your smilin' face J1
IJYesl-l
J1 I know you want us all
to be strong III
D Reafly gonna miss you D
J1 I know you're gone
to that magic place II
I! Singin' you a brand-new song D
J1 I'll miss you J1
I1 I'll miss you my buddy J1
III I'll miss you my friend J1
III I'll miss you my friend J1
J1 I promise my love for you III
J3 I promise my love for you J3
J1 Will never end JII
JII Will never end III
D Reafly gonna miss you D
Al! Al! Al!
Otis, up here!
Man, you're late. You already
missed H16 chantels.
A lot of times,
it's that bein' special...
that made them hard to work with.
But I loved every one of them
like my own brother...
And I always will.
J1 I've got sunshine J1
I! on a doudy day I!
III when it's cold outside D
J1 I've got the month of May J1
J1 I guess you'd say J1
J1 What can make me feel this way J1
I1 My girl I1
J1 My girl J1
III My girl Jil
- J1 Talkin' 'bout my girl I1
- J1 My girl J1
III I got so much honey Jil
I! The bees envy me I!
fl I've got a sweeter song .67
D Than the birds 'm khe trees D
J1 well, I guess you'd say J1
J1 What can make me feel this way J1
I1 My girl I1
J1 My girl J1
- J3 My girl J7
- JII Talkin' 'bout my girl III
III My girl Jil
III I don't need no money J7
J1 fortune or fame III
J1 I've got all the riches, baby III
III One man can claim J1
D Well, I guess you'd say IJ
J1 What can make me feel this way J1
I1 My girl I1
J1 My girl J1
J7 My girl J7 JJ Talkin
' 'bout m y girl J7
D My girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl III
D I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
with my girl III
J7 My girl J7 .57 I've even
got the month ofmay J7
J7 with m y girl J7
fl My girl 1-7
J1 talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout
talkin' 'bout my girl II
D Whoo-hoo J1
J3 Talkin' 'bout my girl III
I1 My girl I1
J1 My girl J1
D That's all I can talk about
is my girl III
III My girl Jil
Tempmfions forever.